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1998 report to the Rio Grande Compact Commission Bureau of Reclamation ;~ ;ll Combined storage for Elephant Butte and Caballo Reservoirs was 1,739,580 af on December 31,1998. This combined storage was 72.6 percent of the total capacity of both reservoirs, and 76.6-percent of the available storage. The available storage for both reservoirs during the winter months (October 1 to March 31) is equal to the capacity of Elephant Butte Reservoir, 2,065,010 af minus 25,000 af that Reclamation reserves for winter operational flood control space (50,000 af during summer), plus the capacity of Caballo Reservoir, 331,510 af minus 100,000 af for flood control space, or 2,271,520 af during winter (2,246,520 af during summer). ;~;Jo (,.;. . ~."( " A full allotment was declared by Reclamation in December 1997 for the 1998 irrigation season. This was the 18th consecutive year that a full allotment has been declared at the beginning of each irrigation season. The Rio Grande Project has enjoyed a full supply for the last 20 years. A full allotment was also declared in December 1998 for the 1999 irrigation season. ~..~~ '.'.' -f' The coordinated forecast from the National Weather Service and the National Resources Conservation Service for the 1999 March through July runoff season is as follows: s~ '1.~. ~> ~) Month % of 30-Year Avera e % of 30-Year Avera e '.- ;<". i/" Jan 01 Feb 01 445,000 480 000 65 70 290,000 320 000 58 64 .- .-'^. ~'.: .,....' (~~ :"'~ Project Irrigation and Drainage Systems and Title Transfer -, .". ~~ ~:f.~ In 1992, Congress authorized the transfer of title to certain irrigation facilities to the Districts. The official transfer of the irrigation and drainage rights-of-way and facilities to the Districts was completed on January 22, 1996. Therefore, in 1998, the irrigation and drainage system continued to be operated and maintained by Elephant Butte Irrigation District in the New Mexico portion of the project and by EI Paso County Water Improvement District No.1 in the Texas portion of the project. Reclamation continues to administer the lands and right-of-way activities of reservoir and diversion dam areas. (;\ '...'" ..-J? '.k :4 t" :~:: {-:. Reclamation retains title and operation and maintenance responsibilities for Elephant Butte and Caballo Dams and Reservoirs. Operation and maintenance of the diversion dams are performed by the Districts under contracts with Reclamation. Reclamation retains the rights-of-way and title of reserved works for Percha, Leasburg, and Mesilla Diversion Dams. The Districts performed water accounting flow measurements at canal headings, river stations, and lateral headings during 1998. Reclamation coordinated and maintained central control of releases, river operations, and water accounting. The IBWC continued to operate and maintain the American Diversion Dam and the -17-