STATEMENT OF RICK L. GOLD, REGIONAL DIRECTOR

UPPER COLORADO REGION, BUREAU OF RECLAMATION

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES

SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER AND POWER

FIELD HEARING, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO

JULY 2, 2002

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, my name is Rick Gold. I am the Regional Director of the Upper Colorado Region of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). I appreciate the opportunity to appear today to discuss Reclamation=s role in meeting the water management challenges in New Mexico. My comments today will focus primarily on the Rio Grande and Pecos River basins.



From the headwaters of the Rio Grande to El Paso, water year runoff into Reclamation reservoirs for water year 2002 has averaged 17 percent of normal and 10 percent of average in the Pecos River Basin. The forecast for the remainder of the water year is equally dismal with 2002 rapidly approaching a record dry year. Trans-mountain diversions from Colorado to New Mexico for the San Juan-Chama Project have been reduced to 7 percent of normal. The conditions we are experiencing this year have been exacerbated by the fact that this is the third year in a row that these river basins have been below average in precipitation and runoff. These severe drought conditions throughout New Mexico are impacting all aspects of water resource management. However, along with these challenging conditions come opportunities to test the resiliency and management skills of all stakeholders.



As Reclamation celebrates its Centennial this year, the present drought demonstrates once again the valuable and important role Reclamation projects have played in these two river basins. The existence of Reclamation storage projects in these basins has created significant benefits to agriculture and municipal use that otherwise would not exist in a three-year drought of this magnitude. These projects have not only allowed for the ability to carry-over needed supplies but have also provided some limited flexibility in managing what little water is available.



Water year 2002 is shaping up to be the driest on record on the Rio Grande making it extremely difficult and costly to meet contractor and environmental demands. Nonetheless, we are pleased to be a party to an agreement between Reclamation and the City of Albuquerque that allows for additional water being available for the endangered silvery minnow. It is also important to note that the City of Albuquerque reached a separate agreement with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District that assisted in lengthening the irrigation season. These agreements are an example of the involvement and collaboration necessary by all parties to manage water efficiently. In spite of these efforts, the river is experiencing some drying below San Acacia due to infiltration and evaporation rates which exceed the low flows. Despite the severity of the hydrologic conditions, and the fact that the situation has been compounded by three years of drought, carry-over storage has provided the flexibility for water releases that otherwise would not have been available. In the first two years of this drought, the District was able to provide a full supply in 2001 and ended the irrigation season only two weeks early in 2000.



Current operational predictions indicate Elephant Butte Reservoir active storage will reach 2002 low storage by mid-October at a little over 13 percent of full. These projections are the lowest since February 1979. However, carryover storage has made the difference in project deliveries to water users. The Rio Grande Project will provide 100 percent of its annual supply this year, with 100 percent in both 2001 and 2000.



The Pecos River basin also presents a bleak situation. Total storage in the four reservoirs on the river (Santa Rosa, Sumner, Brantley and Avalon) has dropped to about 13 percent of normal with delivery for the Carlsbad Project down to about 23 percent of entitlement. Some sections of the river have gone intermittent. By way of contrast, the project delivered 63 percent of entitlement in 2001 and 89 percent in 2000.



In response to the severe situation and due to the low reservoir conditions, an interim operating plan was cooperatively developed by the Carlsbad Irrigation District, Fort Sumner Irrigation District, the State Engineer, and Reclamation for a 6-week period. This collaborative effort provided for the establishment of a minimum pool in Sumner Reservoir and set guidelines for bypassing Fort Sumner Irrigation Districts direct flow right through upstream reservoirs. Next week, all of the parties will reassemble to evaluate continuation of the agreement. I would like to once again emphasize the importance of these kinds of cooperative efforts, with all stakeholders sharing in shortages and pulling together to look for ways to stretch each drop of water. Unfortunately, because of the circumstances provided by Mother Nature, difficulties exist in meeting minimum flows for the threatened bluntnose shiner on the Pecos River. We are pursuing collaborative efforts with our partners to try and meet minimum flow targets.



In an effort to ameliorate some of the effects, Reclamation has some funds available for drought programs under its Drought Assistance Program. To date, five applications, all from Pueblos, are in various stages of processing. We are committed to stretching those program funds as much as possible.



The Bureau of Reclamation has a long history of effective and responsive water management in good times and bad. In all conditions, we are committed to delivering water to meet authorized project purposes, meeting environmental requirements, respecting state water rights, working with all stakeholders in the region, providing leadership, innovation and technical assistance. Mr. Chairman, that concludes my remarks. I would be happy to answer any questions.