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<br />I . <br /> <br />irrigation, and iillbout 26,000 acre-feet ~s than estimates <br /> <br />given at the time of project authorization in 1962. The Bureau <br /> <br />of Reclamation has recently completed a detailed reanalysis of the <br /> <br />depletions that would result from sprinkler irrigation of the <br /> <br />Navajo Indian Irrigation Project. This reanalysis reflects that <br /> <br />under the plan of development project depletions will first <br /> <br />exceed 226,000 acre-feet annually in 1986 with a depletion of <br /> <br />237,500 acre-feet. The depletion rate will peak in 1987 at <br /> <br />252,500 acre-feet, declining to 230,000 acre-feet in 2005 and <br /> <br />further ,declining to the ultimate equilibrium rate of 226,000 acre- <br />, <br /> <br />.feet by 2018. The indicated fluctuation in depletion rate is <br /> <br />occasioned .by the time required for the deep percolation from <br /> <br />irrigation to fill the <br /> <br />pore spaces below the irrigated area <br /> <br />to the level of the project drains which will then return the <br /> <br />deep percolation to the river system. <br /> <br />The State of New Hexico has recommended that 7500 acre-feet <br /> <br />of the water available for contract from Navajo Reservoir be <br /> <br />tentatively reserved for conveyance to Gallup, New Mexico, for <br /> <br />municipal purposes. The Bureau of Reclamation is currently <br /> <br />engaged in a feasibility study of water supply for Gallup and <br /> <br />at this point there appears to be some possibility that the <br /> <br />municipal needs can be met from local ground water sources. <br /> <br />In that event, the proposed depletions listed on Table 2 <br /> <br />would be reduced by 8000 acre-feet. <br /> <br />In sunmary, Table 2 reflects that New Mexico is entitled <br /> <br />to make depletions of the San Juan River system at sites in <br /> <br />New Mexico totaling at least 727,000 acre-feet annually and that <br /> <br />of this amount 701,000 acre-feet annually is firmly co~"itted to <br /> <br />existing uses, authorized federal projects, industrial ~ater <br /> <br />-14- <br />