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Memorandum of Agreement for the San Juan-Contractors Association
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Under the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact, New Mexico was apportioned 11.25% of the water available annually from the Upper Colorado River basin. The San Juan-Chama project imports a portion of NM’s share of Colorado River water in the Rio Grande basin providing about 96,200 acre-feet per year. The Water Authority has a contract for 48,200 acre-feet per year with the Secretary of the Interior for SJC water. While the Water Authority is the largest SJC contractor, there are a total of 20 SJC Contractors including the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, City and County of Santa Fe, Jicarilla Apache, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, Espanola and others.
This Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) provides for the establishment of a San Juan-Chama Contractors Association (Association). This MOA provides for the SJC Contractors to work cooperatively to protect and conserve SJC water resources and to monitor the operations, maintenance and financial issues. In addition, the Association will be monitoring water and other legal issues associated with the SJC project including the development of the Drought Contingency Plans and other activities currently underway in the Colorado River.
Approval is requested to delegate authority to the Executive Director to enter into the MOA.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The contribution for this agreement is $0.50 per acre feet of water under contract which is $ 24,200.00 per year. This funding will come from the Water Resources Operations budget approved for FY20.