Wednesday April 16, 2008
NM:
Agencies Prepare to Operate Middle Rio Grande in a Wet Year
Source: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region
The year is defined as "wet" in the 2003 Biological Opinion when the April streamflow runoff forecast at Otowi gage is 120 percent of average or higher. The April runoff forecast at Otowi this year is 155 percent of average.
This means a 150 cubic feet per second (cfs) flow will be targeted over Isleta Diversion Dam through the year. A 100 cfs flow will be targeted over San Acacia Diversion Dam into November. A 100 cfs flow will be targeted past the San Marcial gage through June 15.
The Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today announced the requirement as they released the 2008 Annual Operating Plan for the Middle Rio Grande.
Those planning recreation or work along the Rio Chama below El Vado and the Middle Rio Grande should be cautious and prepared for higher than average flows through May and June.
The agencies expect to meet the flow requirements in the Biological Opinion for the Rio Grande silvery minnow throughout the irrigation season with water resulting from the above average snow pack in the mountains of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado and water that Reclamation has in storage in upstream reservoirs.
The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District expects to have a full irrigation supply this season.
The April forecast data released by the Natural Resources Conservation Service shows snow pack levels that feed the Rio Chama and Rio Grande to be well above average. The inflow at El Vado Reservoir is expected to be about 375,000 acre-feet of water or 158 percent of average. The inflow at Heron Reservoir is expected to be about 150,000 acre-feet or about 150 percent of average.
Contact:
Mary Perea Carlson
(505) 462-3573