Date: 04/19/2006
Final
Ground Water Issues in the Rio Grande Basin
COMMITTEE ON JOINT AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
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07:53 AM -- Ground Water Management Issues in the Rio Grande Basin
Steve Vandiver, General Manager, Rio Grande Water Conservation District, described annual stream flows and recent snow packs in the Rio Grande Basin. He explained that the river basin is experiencing a historic drought (Attachment A). He also identified the snow water equivalents for each of the state's eight major river basins. Due to the low snow pack in the Rio Grande Basin, he estimated that there would be no water available for storage in the basin and many irrigation ditches would be unable to divert water. Mr. Vandiver also described historic ground water levels in the Unconfined Aquifer that is a primary source of water for agriculture in the basin. He explained that due to the extended drought, the aquifer has been steadily declining and has reached historic lows.
08:05 AM
Mr. Vandiver described the formation of a subdistrict of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District to assist with ground water management in the district and help pay for land fallowing or a retirement program to reduce consumption of ground water. He estimated that up to 50,000 acres of irrigated land may need to be retired in the district. Mr. Vandiver explained that the wells have not been administered in-priority because the Closed Basin is essentially isolated from the Rio Grande. Also, the State Engineer has not adopted rules for these wells and there are voluntary agreements between water users that address ground water management during water shortages. He explained that the State Engineer recently adopted rules to regulated withdrawals from the Confined Aquifer in the Rio Grande Basin.
08:29 AM
Mr. Vandiver described the water delivery requirements for downstream states according to the Rio Grande Compact and described the challenge of complying with these requirements.
08:34 AM
Ken Knox, Deputy State Engineer, described regulation of withdrawals from the ground water in the Rio Grande Basin. He explained that this basin relies on greater local control over water use than other basins in the state.