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<br />O~. ~ ", '> <br />. iJ" "0'''' " <br />.f: V"j <br /> <br />~~~ <br /> <br />equivalent reduction in the consumptive use of stream flows, <br /> <br />which were fully appropriated long before 1938, <br /> <br />Article IV of the Compact also provides that the schedule <br /> <br />relating to New Mexico's Elephant Butte delivery obligation to <br /> <br />the flow at Otowi gage is subject to appropriate adjustment for <br /> <br />any depletion in New Mexico of the natural runoff at Otowi gage <br /> <br />after 1929, <br /> <br />Thus, the limitation on groundwater uses from <br /> <br />stream related aquifers above Otowi gage is also clear despite <br /> <br />the lack of any literal reference to ground water in the <br /> <br />Compact, <br /> <br />The unrestricted development of the groundwater resource in <br />~~1 the Rio Grande system in New Mexico would not only reduce the <br />water supply available for existing prior rights in New Mexico, <br />but would also destroy the state's ability to meet its Rio <br />Grande Compact commitment, Another facet was that a prohibition <br /> <br />of the develorment ~f the groundwater related to the Rio Grande <br />flows would have made it' necessary to forego the greater <br /> <br />convenience and economy that can be had by the use of wells to <br /> <br />meet municipal and industrial requirements instead of the <br /> <br />diversion, treatment and distribution of surface water supplies. <br /> <br />Those provisions of the Rio Grande Compact and the <br /> <br />contemplated large development of wells in the Albuquerque area <br /> <br />were the primary reasons for the State Engineer's November 29, <br /> <br />1956 declaration of the Rio Grande Underground Water Basin <br /> <br />5 <br />