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Approving Agreement between the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority to Lease Reservoir Storage Space in 2016 and 2017
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The Bureau of Reclamation has leased temporary storage space in Abiquiu from the Authority over the last several years. This agreement provides for 10,000 acre-feet of storage space for calendar years 2016 and 2017 and is essentially an extension of the current agreement with the Bureau. The Bureau has a need for temporary storage space when they purchase water for managing in the Rio Grande as part of the Supplemental Water Program.
As consideration for this agreement, the Bureau agrees that the storage would not impair the ability of the Water Authority to store its San Juan-Chama water in addition to providing a waiver applicable to the Authority’s 2015 allocation that allows extended storage in Heron Reservoir until September 30, 2016, and allows extended storage of the Authority’s 2016 annual allocation in Heron Reservoir until September 30, 2017. With the waiver, the Authority should have the space available to take full delivery of its 2015 and 2016 San Juan-Chama water and store the water in Abiquiu without the need to ask Santa Fe or others to release their water stored in the Authority’s space.
After December 31, 2017, this Agreement may be extended for a maximum of two (2) additional two (2) year terms as may be mutually agreed in writing between the Authority and Reclamation, and approved by the Corps of Engineers. Any water stored under this Agreement shall be subject to its proportional share of evaporative losses as may be determined using generally accepted hydrologic accounting model.
We are requesting approval of the agreement to continue our commitment to working cooperatively with the federal agencies in protecting endangered species in the Rio Grande.
Fiscal Impact:
None