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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Rodella

 

DATE TYPED:

02/07/02

 

HB

HM-17

 

SHORT TITLE:

El Rito Reservoir

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Chabot

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

 

 

 

NFI

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

LFC Files

Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department

New Mexico Environment Department (NMED)

New Mexico Finance Authority

Office of the Natural Resources Trustee

Office of the State Engineer (OSE)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Memorial 17 resolves that the New Mexico congressional delegation be requested to consider federal financing of a reservoir in the El Rito area to supply farmers on the acequia with irrigation water that otherwise drains into the El Rito River, the Rio Chama and the Rio Grande.

 

     Significant Issues

 

Most of the precipitation in the El Rito area is in the winter months when there is little need for irrigation and the water runs off into adjacent stream systems.  The memorial proposes being a reservoir to store this water for use during the growing season.  If effectively managed, a reservoir may help to alleviate water shortages during times of high use.  The federal authorities would have to do an assessment of the need for a dam, environmental concerns and benefits to the surrounding area in determining the viability of building a reservoir in this area.

 

OSE states the El Rito area and the Rio Chama area between Abiquiu and Espanola are under the jurisdiction of a water master who administers water rights according to priority dates in times of insufficient water supply.  This area has been adjudicated.  In order to construct a reservoir, an application to store water would have to be submitted to OSE and that application could be subject to protest delaying its consideration.  In addition, storage water rights would be junior to all others in the area because they would be based upon that application date.  The United States Bureau of Reclamation did a study about two years ago for a dam site in the Canjilon area and obtaining additional water rights were a major consideration.

 

 NMED is concerned that a dam would have potential adverse impacts on surface water quality, riparian vegetation and wildlife habitat.  Numerous streams in the El Rito watershed are high-quality, cold water fisheries and support populations of trout.  Constructions of a reservoir could impact their habitat.

 

These concerns would have to be addressed in an environmental impact statement when and if the federal government decided to study the possibility of building a reservoir in the El Rito area.

 

GAC/njw

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