Reservoir Operation Constraints and Opportunities, from the perspective of the Bureau of Reclamation

Transcription

1 Reservoir Operation Constraints and Opportunities, from the perspective of the Bureau of Reclamation Presented at: Institutional Constraints to Water Management in New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico May 20, 2016 Jennifer Faler Area Manager Albuquerque Area Office

2 Bureau of Reclamation and Albuquerque Area Office Reclamation is: Nation s largest wholesale water supplier, providing water to 1 out of 5 western farmers Nation s second largest producer of hydropower Albuquerque Area Office (AAO) : Manages water projects in the Rio Grande and Pecos River watersheds in NM and west TX Has jurisdiction over 9 significant high hazard dams in CO and NM, with a combined reservoir capacity of more than 3,551,000 acre-feet

3 AAO Rio Grande Service Area

4 Federal Dams in Rio Grande Basin In general, each dam is only authorized for the designated functions. *Nambe Falls operated by Pojoaque Valley Irrigation District. Operated By: Dams: HERON EL VADO ABIQUIU Reclamation Corps Water Supply x x Recreation NAMBE FALLS* x x x x Flood Control Sediment Control x x x x GALISTEO x COCHITI x x x JEMEZ CANYON x x ELEPHANT BUTTE x x CABALLO x x x

5 AAO Pecos River Service Area

6 Federal Dams in Pecos Basin Operated By: Dams: Reclamation Corps Water Supply Recreation Flood Control SANTA ROSA x x x Sediment Control SUMNER* BRANTLEY* AVALON* x x x x x x x *Dams operated by Carlsbad Irrigation District. In general, each dam is only authorized for the designated functions.

7 AAO Water Operations and Associated Constraints Rio Grande Basin Heron Reservoir Storage for imported San Juan-Chama Project water El Vado Reservoir Primarily provides storage for Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District; some native and SJC Project water storage Storage restricted by Rio Grande Compact (Article VII) Specified amount of water for lands with Prior and Paramount (P&P) water rights is stored under Article VII, but without carryover storage Storage of specified amount of relinquished credits under Rio Grande Compact may be authorized by State of NM Elephant Butte Reservoir Dam is NM s delivery point to TX under Rio Grande Compact Caballo Reservoir Water storage and release for Rio Grande Project for delivery to districts in southern NM, west TX, and to Mexico, in accordance with Convention of

8 AAO Water Operations and Associated Constraints Pecos River Basin Sumner Reservoir receives snowmelt & groundwater inflow; releases primarily by block releases Reclamation s bypass in support of listed species alleviates the requirement that stored water must be used for irrigation Agreements between Reclamation and CID allow ESA storage within the project pool Reclamation works with CID on block release timing to minimize impacts to listed species Brantley Reservoir stores mostly groundwater plus block releases from Sumner Avalon Reservoir re-regulates Brantley outflow 8

9 Why do we need additional flexibility? Meet ESA requirements meet flow requirements or hydrologic objectives of Endangered Species Act consultations in both river basins Enhance ecological resilience flow and water-dependent ecological resiliency is a stated objective in the SECURE Water Act. Opportunities on the Rio Chama being explored through State and Reclamation-funded projects Enhance deliveries to water users during drought, or in future periods additional storage flexibility may be needed to deal with: Low water supply and increased demand Earlier snowmelt runoffs Changes in monsoon characteristics Deeper droughts and larger floods 9

10 Previous Expansions of Operational Flexibility Waivers for San Juan-Chama Project water releases from Heron Reservoir Waivers for up to 9 month extension of release date for contractors who lease water to Reclamation s Supplemental Water Program to support endangered species Recently, waivers given to Santa Fe for releases that support winter flows in the Wild and Scenic reach of the Rio Chama, since this was deemed to benefit the government Cochiti Deviations - coordinated with US Army Corps of Engineers and State of NM for temporary detention of water in Cochiti Reservoir in order to augment spring flow peaks in the Middle Rio Grande, Exchanges of San Juan-Chama Project water in late 2013 with approval of Rio Grande Compact Commission, Reclamation exchanged the Water Authority s San Juan-Chama Project water in Elephant Butte with unused P&P water in El Vado; in spring 2014, that water was released to Elephant Butte Reservoir to augment a spring peak through the Middle Rio Grande 10

11 Operational Constraints: Middle Rio Grande flow requirements under the 2003 Biological Opinion Nov 16 June 15 June 16 Nov 15 Cochiti Different requirements for average and wet years. Central 100 cfs Isleta San Acacia Separate set of streamflow requirements for the Pecos River. San Marcial Continuous flow March 2003 BiOp Flow Requirements Dry Year

12 El Vado Dam Operations Opportunities both within and beyond current authorizations Per Reclamation s 2016 Biological Assessment, offsetting and conservation measures for El Vado Dam include: Modify operations within current authorizations to better meet species needs During spring peak, adjust storage timing within current authorizations Facilitate exchanges of San Juan-Chama Project water from downstream to upstream to improve water management flexibility In addition, beyond current authorizations, also pursue: Modified reservoir operations Conservation pools in upstream reservoirs Adjusted timing of storage 12

13 Example of additional flexibility: 2015 El Vado Operations Water stored under March 24 resolution, subsequently released May to support spring pulse

14 Thinking outside the box 2015 and 2016 Rio Grande Compact Commission Resolutions Allowed storage in El Vado while under Article VII Water released to support a spring peak flow in the Middle Rio Grande Altering timing of releases of unused water stored for irrigation of lands with P&P water rights to facilitate more natural hydrograph without affecting water use or deliveries under Rio Grande Compact Upstream exchanges of San Juan-Chama Project water in Elephant Butte Reservoir: ABCWUA in 2013; City of Santa Fe in 2014 Supporting the Water Authority in its quest for storage of native water in Abiquiu Reservoir. Breaking News: 4,500 cfs release on the Wild and Scenic reach of the Rio Chama next week, to enhance geomorphic conditions and riverine and riparian habitat. 14

15 Thinking outside the box Santa Rosa fish and wildlife pool Working with USACE and NMISC Needed because Sumner space is fully utilized River operation flexibility with FSID, CID, and NMISC Storage of unappropriated floodwater in Brantley Occurred after large storms in 2014, remained in storage into 2015 Discussing options for Warren Act contracts for future extended storage for TX, NM 15

16 QUESTIONS? 16