State Perspectives on Reservoir Management

Transcription

1 State Perspectives on Reservoir Management Pecos and Rio Grande Basins New Mexico Presented at Institutional Constraints to Water Management in New Mexico Presented By: Grace Haggerty Rio Grande Bureau Interstate Stream Commission

2 Office of the State Engineer/Interstate Stream Commission New Mexico Compacts Major Reservoirs in NM Legal authorizations Two examples of coordinated reservoir operations from the Rio Grande and Pecos Future needs Presentation Topics

3 The Office of the State Engineer is charged with administering the state's water resources. The State Engineer has authority over the supervision, measurement, appropriation, and distribution of all surface and groundwater in New Mexico, including streams and rivers that cross state boundaries. The State Engineer is also Secretary of the Interstate Stream Commission. Tom Blaine P.E. New Mexico State Engineer Secretary, Interstate Stream Commission Office of State Engineer

4 The Interstate Stream Commission has broad powers to investigate, protect, conserve, and develop New Mexico s waters including both interstate and intrastate stream systems. The Commission s authority under state law includes negotiating with other states to settle interstate stream controversies. The Commission is also authorized by statute to investigate and develop the water supplies of the state and institute legal proceedings in the name of the state for planning, conservation, protection and development of public waters. Deborah Dixon, P.E. Director Interstate Stream Commission NM Interstate Stream Commission

5 NM Interstate Stream Compacts

6 Some Millennial+ Issues for Water Managers in NM Use and demand for water storage increased and changed Aquatic and riparian obligate species have been listed under the Endangered Species Act on all major river systems in NM Recurring droughts and climate change, and the naturally variable system, makes water supply predictions precarious

7 Drought continues to visit NM

8 Reservoirs in NM There are over 600 dams in the state, of which the State Engineers Office has jurisdiction over about 300 Most major reservoirs in NM are operated by federal agencies for irrigation, flood control, or both Reclamation operates Navajo, Sumner, Brantley, Heron, El Vado, Elephant Butte, Caballo US Corps of Engineers operates Santa Rosa, Abiquiu, Jemez, Galisteo, Conchas, Two Rivers Other smaller reservoirs are managed by the NMISC, NM State Parks, and other entities for recreation, water supply, irrigation, and other uses This presentation will discuss two examples of coordinated reservoir operations from the Rio Grande and Pecos.

9 Colorado New Mexico The Upper and Middle Rio Grande Basins and the Major Reservoirs Eight major reservoirs in the Rio Grande basin in New Mexico: 1. Heron Reservoir 2. El Vado Reservoir 3. Abiquiu Reservoir 4. Cochiti Reservoir 5. Galisteo Reservoir 6. Jemez Reservoir 7. Elephant Butte Reservoir, and 8. Caballo Reservoir

10 Legal Authorizations Rio Grande Compact State and Federal Law Article IV Defines New Mexico s Annual Delivery to Elephant Butte. Article VI Defines Credit, Debit, and compliance, requires retention of water in upstream reservoirs when New Mexico is in Accrued Debit. Article VII Defines Relinquishment of Credit Water. Article VIII Defines how Debit Water can be called for and when. In general, the Compact links operations of all the upstream major reservoirs to the operations of Elephant Butte and Caballo Reservoirs. The Compact list is a summary for this presentation only, not comprehensive

11 Legal Authorizations continued Other Federal Laws Flood Control Acts of 1948 and 1950 Middle Rio Grande Project and Abiquiu Reservoir PL (1960) Cochiti, Galisteo and Jemez Canyon Reservoirs; operational criteria for all four Middle Rio Grande Project Reservoirs. Includes RGCC requirements. PL (1962) San Juan-Chama Project and Heron Reservoir. Includes accounting requirements. PL (1964) Permanent recreational pool at Cochiti Reservoir.

12 MRG Compact Allocation and Obligation

13 Other Federal Laws (cont.) PL (1974) Elephant Butte Recreation Pool and required RGCC agreement PL (1981) Storage of up to 200,000 acre-feet of San Juan-Chama water in Abiquiu and San Juan-Chama water storage in Elephant Butte. Includes RGCC requirements. PL (1988) Storage of up to 200,000 acre-feet of native Rio Grande water in Abiquiu if space not needed for storage of San Juan-Chama water ESA, NEPA, CWA State Law State water code OSE rules and regulations Legal Authorizations continued

14 URGWOP Record of Decision In 2007, NMISC supported the implementation of one URGWOP Alternative: Extension of Heron Reservoir waivers from March 30 to September 30 if the extension benefits Reclamation meeting its ESA obligations; Work with the Corps, Reclamation and other agencies or entities to implement native water storage in Abiquiu Reservoir; Support the Corps effort to maintain 1800 cfs flood control release from Abiquiu reservoir; Implement projects in the MRG to support 7,000 cfs to 10,000 cfs combined release from Cochiti and Jemez reservoirs; Continue to utilize the LFCC as the main drain in the San Acacia reach. Continue to work with federal and state agencies to improve communications and coordination.

15 Upper Rio Grande Water Operation Review and EIS (URGWOPS) Active Water Resource Management (OSE) Supplemental Water Program for ESA in the MRG (Reclamation) MRGCD operations analyses and improvements Water conservation programs by municipalities Strategic Water Reserve for compact deliveries/esa compliance (ISC) Water management coordination during critical periods Chama watershed study (various NGO s and agencies) Investigate new sources of water Conduct specialized reservoir operations, e.g., Cochiti deviations, El Vado Resolutions Proposed conservation pools in Abiquiu and Santa Rosa reservoirs Working within the Sidebars

16 Rio Grande Compact Commission 2016 Resolution Pecos Fish and Wildlife Pool Two Examples of Recent Reservoir Management out of box Actions

17 Resolution March 31, 2016 Rio Grande Compact Commission Temporary Modification of Operations at El Vado Reservoir in New Mexico During May and June 2016 The Rio Grande Compact Commission authorized Reclamation and the MRGCD to temporarily modify operations at El Vado Reservoir in 2016 to aid in creating a spawning flow for the benefit of the Rio Grande silvery minnow should Article VII storage restrictions go back into effect. New Mexico Strategic Water Reserve will be used to offset additional depletions incurred during operations All actions related to this operations must be completed by June 15, 2016

18 Up to 40,000 AF may be stored in El Vado under 2016 RGCC Resolution for release next week to be timed with mainstem Rio Grande flows Journey of Water

19 Santa Rosa Reservoir Proposed Fish and Wildlife Pool (FWP)

20 Santa Rosa Reservoir

21 Proposed Fish and Wildlife Pool (FWP) The Pecos bluntnose shiner is a Federally threatened fish under the Endangered Species Act Biological Opinion sets critical habitat minimum flow requirements intermittent drying occurred despite intensive compliance effort Multi-year collaborative planning between ISC and BOR to: Meet BO flow requirements Protect existing water uses Requires storing sufficient water to meet flow targets through consecutive drought years, such as equals strategic planning for FWP in Santa Rosa

22 Santa Rosa Reservoir FWP Details Establish 30,000 acre-foot fish pool in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Santa Rosa Reservoir Plenty of available space without affecting Carlsbad Project Carlsbad Project entitlement storage: 100,000 AF Historical maximum storage: 120,000 AF Existing irrigation pool: 200,000 AF USACE has given green light Reclamation completing environmental compliance requirements (i.e., Biological Assessment) FWP included in modeling for BOR s 2016 Biological Assessment for the shiner Fish pool would be and filled over time with water purchased/leased from willing sellers - Paid for by BOR

23 Santa Rosa Lake Elevations ( ) Top of Dam Elev = ,979 acre-feet Top of Flood Control Pool Elev = ,364 acre-feet Flood Control Pool Volume = 179,288 acre-feet Authorized= 167,000 acre-feet Historical Maximum Pool Elev = ,650 acre-feet May 8, 1987 Top of Conservation Pool Elev = ,076 acre-feet; Irrigation= 200,000 acre-feet

24 Coordination among Federal and State agencies is key to success to address constraints in water resources For specific actions such as creation of a spawning pulse greater flexibility at Cochiti reservoir would be helpful and Congressional authorization is necessary Changing federal authorizations to remove constraints in reservoir management must be carefully considered due to the potential domino effect throughout the river system. Conclusions