In spite of a few drops in Hillsboro yesterday, we are in drought. We are also short of river water (a different problem). The spring flows in the southern reaches of the Rio Grande system were weak this year because snow pack was thin and early warm temperatures melted some of it before the flows accumulated. Water has essentially stopped flowing into Elephant Butte. The river is dry at San Marcial, and this summer the dry river section will probably reach Albuquerque. It’s not as bad as in 2021, but it is pretty close to it. On various occasions this spring new historic lows were set in flows.
Lack of water in the Rio Grande system has serious consequences. Here is a video presentation by Dr. Phil King to the Elephant Butte Irrigation District board at the beginning of April on the water situation for the farmers: go to this link https://youtu.be/f7fkzSYQF5U. Elephant Butte and Caballo have about 270,000 acre feet now (an acre feet being an acre of water a foot deep), and most of that will be taken by the district, leaving a mere 10,000 acre feet in Elephant Butte and 12,000 acre feet in Caballo for the fish. At its meeting next week, the board will decide how much water will be allotted to its members this year. It won’t be much.
Some farmers will be forced to use well water to supplement their irrigation, but in this drought, groundwater is already stressed. In addition, wells near the reservoirs and the river will be affected by the low flows because of the interchange between surface and ground water. The one thing farmers can hope for is a good monsoon season, and the latest NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) forecast has revised upwards its prediction for a normal monsoon this year: Climate Prediction Center – Seasonal Outlook .
This year’s low river flow also impacts us non-farmers. New Mexico is part of the Rio Grande Compact, according to which we agree to release a certain amount of water every year to Texas and Mexico. We have failed in recent years to do this and are piling up a deficit which we may not be able to pay. It is a complicated situation, but we risk this year violating our legal obligation and so far, the state does not seem to have a solution unless the new State Engineer is willing exercise her authority in controlling water usage. For an explanation of this problem, see Norm Gaum’s call for citizen action: https://nmwateradvocates.org/middle-rio-grande-on-the-brink/?utm_source=New+Mexico+Water+Advocates . Mr. Gaum is a retired state water manager and since retirement has been promoting water policy reform. He is president of New Mexico Water Advocates, a public information organization and platform for discussion of water policy.
Save water. Remember you live in the desert.
Wow.