WSP04263

• File Number: 8507
• Description: Rio Grande Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Date: 1/1/1957
• Title: Symposium on Problems of the Upper Rio Grande
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

thfOugh 1952 the fiver has aggraded about 0.6 feet in
the Albuquerque and Socorro areaS. These average
figures do not in themselves tell the whole story on
aggradation, because of the extremes in local areas.
In several places in all divisions the local aggrada.
tion in both channel and flood plain has been as
much as four times the average.
The lands of the valley are subject to a great
potential flood hazard. These floods may stdke as a
result of either melting snow above Cochiti or tor..
rential-type summer rains. Some of the major floods
that have occuued include the flood of 1874 with an
estimated peak discharge of over 100,000 cfs at
Albuquerque; the 1884 flood with a peak in excess
of 40,000 cfs; the fall flood of 1904 with a peak of
50,000 cfs at San Marcial; the August 1935 flood
with 42,100 cfs at San Felipe: and the spfing 1941
flood of 22,500 cfs.. There have been a total of 16
major floods dudng the past 80 years.
Other pwblems faced by the itdgatms in the valley
include those of operation and maintenance. Some
of the District's structures, such as Islets Diversion
Dam, were damaged by high fiver flows in 1941, and
expensive maintenance required for the levee system
has requited use of funds that normally would be
applied to maintenance of the irrigation and drainage
system.
Waterlogging of some areas has been a problem in
the valley fm many years. In 1926 and 1927, 78
percent of the area had a water table 4 feet or less
from the ground surface. The drain construction of
the Middle Rio Gfande Conservancy Distdct had
reduced this area to 16 percent in October 1936. As
a result of the pwlonged dwught, and water shortage
in 1952, about 23,280 acres, or 19 percent of the
total area, had a water table less than 4 feet fwm
the ground surface. In periods of normal water supply
this area would be much larger. ,The drains were
deteriorating from bank erosion in places; flows were
restricted by dense growths of tr.ees and brush along
each bank and by growths of high water consuming
aquatic vegetation in the drains. Structures original-
ly. of wood construction generally were in poor condi-
tion.
The question naturally afises: "What is being
done about these serious problems?"
In 1948 the coordinated plan of the Corps of En-
gineers and the Bureau of Reclamation for the Middle
Rio Gfande PfOject was authodzed by the United
States Congress. This project, estimated to cost
$ 70,000,000, is now about 25% complete on a money
basis. The authmized pwject included Chamita and
jemez Reservoirs on the Rio Chama and jemez Creek
respectively for flood and sediment contwl, to be
constmcted and opefated by the Corps of Engineers,
as well as levees for local flood pwtection along the
Middle Rio Gmnde. The Bmeau of Reclamation was
authorized to rehabilitate E1 Vado Reservoir, to
rectify the dver channel thfOugh the Middle Valley,

28

to rehabilitate the iuigation and dminage system,
and to lend financial assistance to the District in
the form of acquisition of the Distdct's outstanding
bonds. The Bureau's work was estimated to cost
$ 30,000,000.
The Middle Rio Grande Pwject Office of the Bu-
reau of Reclamation was established in 1950 and the
preparation of definite plans was started. The first
work accomplished was of an emergency water sal-
vage natme. Channelization of the salt cedar,
willow, and cottonwood infested 35-mile long area
above Elephant Butte Reservoir was started in 1951
and completed about a year ago. Mr. Elliott will
discuss this work, and our salt cedar control work.
I will only add that appwximately 138,000 acre-feet
of water have been salvaged by this channel already.
A flood and sediment control reservoir or reservoirs
on the Rio Puerco would assist matedally in mainte-
nance of the floadway and conveyance channel and
would doubtless permit greater water salvage by
more neady conholling the flows to the capacity of
the conveyance channel.
Other emergency water salvage measures that have
been completed include protective levees, riverside
drains, and channels in four other reaches of the
dver totaling about 21 miles. The levees prevent
the river from flooding areas of heavy vegetation
where high water losses formerly occurred and the
drains and channels have lowered the water table in
these areaS by intercepting lateral seepage from the
river. It is estimated that this work is salvaging
over 5,000 acre-feet of water annually.
This emergency channelization work is only the
initial phase of the channel rectification program
authorized for the full reach of the river from Cochiti
to San Marcial which is primarily for water salvage.
The next work of the project was on drainage
rehabilitation. This was given a high priority also
because of the water salvage benefits that would
result. Appwximately 250 miles of open drains have
been cleaned and vegetation removed from the banks.
About 5 miles of closed drains have been construct-
ed. In addition, several drain hook-ups were con--
structed, which will permit the use for irrigation of
drain water which formetly emptied back to the dver.
Drainage rehabilitation will continue into next fiscal
year.
Rehabilitation of the Isleta Diversion Dam was
completed last month, and work is in progress on
rehabilitation of EI Vado Dam. We are working on
final designs at the major diversions and for re-
habilitation of the remaining irrigation works.
The Corps of Engineers has completed the con-
stmction of Jemez Dam and the tie-back levee north
of Albuquerque. Work is now in progress on strength-
ening the levee awund Albuquerque. Planning has
gone fmward on the Corps' other phases of the
Middle Rio Grande Pwject. I understand that recent
studies conducted by the Corps in connection with

;.

(:.

t:

]
::;.;

<'<

ii

:}

.,
<.

.:,,;
k;:
"....
.'
"

~
~ :'
f<.

;:'

.: :,~." "J
...... ..,....~.....