Active Water Resource Management in the Lower Rio Grande

TOOLS FOR A NEW ERA IN WATER MANAGEMENT

presented bypresented by

Peggy Barroll, HydrologistPeggy Barroll, Hydrologist

New Mexico Office of the State EngineerNew Mexico Office of the State Engineer

Lower Rio Grande Water Users AssociationLower Rio Grande Water Users Association

8/19/058/19/05

This Presentation

More details on the problemMore details on the problem How will our draft regulations address this How will our draft regulations address this

problemproblem The basis for administrationThe basis for administration

The Problem

Demand and use of water is increasingDemand and use of water is increasing Groundwater use is increasingGroundwater use is increasing Junior Groundwater use impacts senior surface Junior Groundwater use impacts senior surface

water rightswater rights

Even Though EBID Irrigated Acreage is Down…

Depletion of Water within EBID Has Increased

EBID Consumption of Irrigation Water CIR (crop) x Acreage(crop)

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

1953

1956

1959

1962

1965

1968

1971

1974

1977

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

Year

Ac

re-f

ee

t/y

ea

r

EBID Misc

EBID Cotton

EBID Other Forage

EBID Hay-Pasture

EBID Grain

EBID Vegetables

EBID Alfalfa

EBID Pecans

Alfalfa CIR ramped up as yields increase from about 4 tons/acre to 7.5 tons/acre

With Additional Depletion on Groundwater-only Lands

Lower Rio Grande: Consumption of Irrigation Water CIR (crop) x Acreage(crop)

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

1953

1956

1959

1962

1965

1968

1971

1974

1977

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

Year

Ac

re-f

ee

t/y

ea

r

GW only

EBID Misc

EBID Cotton

EBID Other Forage

EBID Hay-Pasture

EBID Grain

EBID Vegetables

EBID Alfalfa

EBID Pecans

Alfalfa CIR ramped up as yields increase from about 4 tons/acre to 7.5 tons/acre

Plus Increasing Municipal and Industrial water use

The Facts We Must Deal With

Groundwater and surface water behave as single Groundwater and surface water behave as single resourceresource

State Engineer Reynolds did not declare state’s State Engineer Reynolds did not declare state’s jurisdiction over most of the LRG’s groundwater jurisdiction over most of the LRG’s groundwater until 1980 and 1982until 1980 and 1982 Most pumping already establishedMost pumping already established

The Facts We Must Deal With

Groundwater pumping has been increasing in the Groundwater pumping has been increasing in the LRGLRG

Groundwater pumping for irrigation use alone may Groundwater pumping for irrigation use alone may be as high as: be as high as: 50,000 -100,000 AFY in full project supply years 50,000 -100,000 AFY in full project supply years 200,000 - 300,000 (?) AFY in low project supply 200,000 - 300,000 (?) AFY in low project supply

yearsyears

Groundwater Pumping Dries up Drains

Total Drain Inflows to Rio Grande by Sub-ReachNMSU Data set

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

180,000

200,000

220,000

240,000

260,000

280,000

300,000

19

30

19

35

19

40

19

45

19

50

19

55

19

60

19

65

19

70

19

75

19

80

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90

19

95

Year

Ac

re-f

ee

t p

er

ye

ar

Mesilla

Leasburg

Rincon

Interpolated Data in 90's

Drain Flows are Part of the Water Supply of the Rio Grande Project

Historically drain flows have added about 20% to Historically drain flows have added about 20% to Project diversionsProject diversions

When the drains are dry, the Rio Grande Project When the drains are dry, the Rio Grande Project water supply is reduced, and Project water water supply is reduced, and Project water cannot be delivered efficientlycannot be delivered efficiently

Surface water rights associated with the Rio Surface water rights associated with the Rio Grande Project are senior in priorityGrande Project are senior in priority

This Effect has been Evident in the Recent Drought Groundwater pumping has been high during the Groundwater pumping has been high during the

recent drought recent drought The drains have been dryThe drains have been dry The drains dried up rapidly, and have not yet The drains dried up rapidly, and have not yet

recovered.recovered.

To Address this Problem:The State Engineer is Increasing Regulation of Groundwater Use Metering OrderMetering Order District Specific RegulationsDistrict Specific Regulations

Enforcement against over diversionEnforcement against over diversion

In Addition, the District Specific Regulations Will Include Priority

Administration

Junior groundwater rights will be curtailed in priority, Junior groundwater rights will be curtailed in priority, as necessary as necessary to protect the historical operations of the Rio to protect the historical operations of the Rio

Grande Project Grande Project to ensure protection of senior surface water to ensure protection of senior surface water

rights ownersrights owners

The Regulations Depend on a Priority Administration Target

This target has been set as the historical operating This target has been set as the historical operating efficiency of the Rio Grande Project since the 1950s efficiency of the Rio Grande Project since the 1950s (the D2 curve)(the D2 curve)

Once a new operating agreement is developed, and Once a new operating agreement is developed, and is accepted by all parties, the State Engineer will is accepted by all parties, the State Engineer will administer to that agreementadminister to that agreement

What is D2?•D2 is a plot of Project Release vs. Project Supply Using data from 1951-1978•Project Release: Water released from Caballo for the Rio Grande Project•Project Supply: Divertible Water at River Headings: includes

•release from Project Storage, •return flows, and •any useable inflows to the Rio Grande

USBR D-2 Curve

-200000

0

200000

400000

600000

800000

1000000

1200000

0 100000 200000 300000 400000 500000 600000 700000 800000 900000 1000000

Release from Proj. Storage AF

Net D

iver

sion

s (U

S +

Mex

ico)

AF

Release at Caballo763,840

Gross Diversions at Headings931,840

D2 is an Efficiency Relationship

ININ: Release from Reservoir : Release from Reservoir StorageStorage

OUTOUT: Delivery at River : Delivery at River Headings or Project SupplyHeadings or Project Supply

Efficiency: Efficiency: OUT / INOUT / IN If it really were a pipe If it really were a pipe

Efficiency would be 100%Efficiency would be 100%

IN

Out

Actual Project (River) Efficiency

In good years, drain flows In good years, drain flows come back in to the River, come back in to the River, and thus water is recycled.and thus water is recycled.

Full Supply Year Efficiency: Full Supply Year Efficiency: 120%120%

IN

Actual Project (River) Efficiency

In bad years, drain flows dry In bad years, drain flows dry up, and water is lost to the up, and water is lost to the River conveyance losses.River conveyance losses.

Bad Supply Year Efficiency: Bad Supply Year Efficiency: 80 - 90%80 - 90%

IN

Losses

D2 Curve with All Data Through 1992:Reflects Historical Operating Efficiency

D2 Plot With Data 1940-1992

-

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

0 200,000 400,000 600,000 800,000 1,000,000

Reservoir Supply: Project Releases (acre-feet)

Pro

jec

t S

up

ply

In Recent Years?

BOR has said that Project still operates BOR has said that Project still operates at close to D2 efficiency, except for at close to D2 efficiency, except for during the recent droughtduring the recent drought

How are we using D2 in our Regulations? Junior groundwater will be curtailed, if Junior groundwater will be curtailed, if

necessary, to ensure that the Rio necessary, to ensure that the Rio Grande Project can operate at the level Grande Project can operate at the level of efficiency described by D2of efficiency described by D2

Under Depletion Limit Administration Under Depletion Limit Administration this curtailment would be eitherthis curtailment would be either Temporary, for critical years, orTemporary, for critical years, or Long term if necessaryLong term if necessary

Why Administer to the Historical Operating Condition?

Gives us a quantified target for surface Gives us a quantified target for surface water deliverywater delivery

Documented in US BOR Rio Grande Documented in US BOR Rio Grande Project Water Supply Allocation Project Water Supply Allocation ProceduresProcedures

It has been the basis of Rio Grande It has been the basis of Rio Grande Project operations for 50 yearsProject operations for 50 years

It is generally favorable to New MexicoIt is generally favorable to New Mexico

Priority Administration Will Not Be Easy or Pleasant

Seniors get a Seniors get a fullfull supply before juniors get supply before juniors get anyany When determining who gets curtailed: only When determining who gets curtailed: only

seniority counts seniority counts although the State Engineer will not curtail although the State Engineer will not curtail

essential domestic usesessential domestic uses Groundwater rights are generally junior Groundwater rights are generally junior The burden imposed by shortages is not The burden imposed by shortages is not

sharedshared

The State Engineer Prefers Alternative Administration

Local water users agree on a workable Local water users agree on a workable alternative solutionalternative solution

For exampleFor example Shortage sharingShortage sharing Reserve pools of water in reservoir Reserve pools of water in reservoir

storage to ensure Project deliveriesstorage to ensure Project deliveries Other optionsOther options

Your Comments & Ideas

Agri-culture

Municipalities

Ind

ustries

End