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Approving the Agreement between the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority for lease of San Juan-Chama Water
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The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (Water Authority) is partnering with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) and the City of Santa Fe to keep the Albuquerque reach of the Rio Grande flowing the remainder of the irrigation season. The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) is currently scheduled to exhaust their 2018 supplies towards the end of August 2018 and this agreement will provide for the Water Authority to continue surface diversions and to keep the Albuquerque reach flowing until the end of irrigation season October 31, 2018.
This agreement provides for a one-time lease of 20,000 acre-feet at $100.00 per acre-foot for a total of $2.0 million. The San Juan-Chama water will be used to supplement the overall water supplies in the Middle Rio Grande and provide for the USBR’s obligation under the current Biological Opinion. The agreement is consistent with policies E.4 and J.1 of the Water Authority’s Water 2120 Plan. The funding from this agreement should be placed in the Water 2120 Decade Plan activity for implementing the 100 year water plan.
Fiscal Impact:
The Water Authority will be paid $100 per acre-foot for the San Juan-Chama water delivered from Abiquiu Reservoir for a total amount if fully used of $2.0 million. The funding should be set aside and placed into the Decade Plan activity for the implementation of Water 2120.