Middle Rio Grande Case Study - Introduction

Summary

The speaker, a retired water engineer turned activist, presents a case study on the Middle Rio Grande's water management issues. He discusses the region's water resources, the historical context of water allocation, and the challenges posed by interstate agreements and climate change. The presentation highlights the depletion of water resources, the impact of urban and agricultural water use, and the need for a sustainable, resilient plan. The speaker emphasizes the urgency of better governance, water data accessibility, and financial engineering to address New Mexico's water crisis.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The speaker presented a case study on water management in the middle Rio Grande to Argentine scholars, emphasizing the region’s challenges and possible solutions.
• 🔧 The speaker is a retired water engineer who became a peace engineering advocate, focusing on water policy and activism, particularly in New Mexico.
• 🚰 The Rio Grande faces significant water management issues, including an interstate water-sharing compact between Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico, signed in 1938.
• 💧 New Mexico is obligated to deliver 57% of the Rio Grande’s inflows downstream, which is challenging, especially in higher flow years.
• 🌿 The middle Rio Grande suffers from water depletion due to various factors, such as irrigation, urban consumption, and environmental conservation for wildlife.
• 🌡️ Climate change and drought have severely affected water resources, shrinking reservoirs and making it harder to meet water-sharing agreements.
• 📊 A water budget study conducted in 2000 showed a 40,000-acre-foot water deficit, a situation that has worsened due to recent extreme dry years.
• 📉 Water governance in New Mexico lacks adequate control, as permits are issued without real-time regulation, leading to unsustainable water usage.
• 🌳 A significant portion of the water is used by riparian vegetation, reservoirs, and agriculture, while urban use only accounts for a small percentage.
• 💡 The public supports sustainability and improved water data collection, but progress is slow, and more resources and comprehensive planning are needed to address these issues.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the Middle Rio Grande case study?

The case study focuses on the water management issues in the Middle Rio Grande, including the challenges of meeting water delivery obligations and sustainable usage of water resources, particularly under the Rio Grande Compact agreement.

Who is presenting the Middle Rio Grande case study and what is their background?

The presenter is a retired water engineer who transitioned to water policy and peace engineering. After retirement, they became an activist advocating for water sanity in New Mexico, especially in the Middle Rio Grande.

What are the geographic boundaries of the Middle Rio Grande as described in the case study?

The Middle Rio Grande extends from the Otowi gauge down to Elephant Butte Dam, covering the area in central New Mexico. It is part of the larger Rio Grande Basin, which also spans Colorado, a part of southwest Texas, and a section of Mexico.

What is the Rio Grande Compact and how does it relate to the water management issues discussed?

The Rio Grande Compact is an interstate agreement between New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas, signed in 1938, which regulates the distribution of Rio Grande water among these states. New Mexico is obligated to deliver 57% of inflows downstream, which creates significant water management challenges, particularly in dry years.

What challenges does New Mexico face in delivering water downstream under the Rio Grande Compact?

New Mexico faces the challenge of delivering 57% of inflows to downstream users, especially in higher flow years when it must deliver 100% of the marginal increases. Recent decades of drought and reduced inflows have exacerbated these challenges, resulting in a 40,000 acre-foot deficit under 2000 development conditions.

What role does climate change play in the water management issues in the Middle Rio Grande?

Climate change has led to prolonged droughts, reducing inflows to reservoirs like Heron Reservoir, which now hold significantly less water than they once did. This has worsened the already complex challenge of water management in the Middle Rio Grande.

How does urban groundwater pumping affect the Middle Rio Grande's water budget?

Urban groundwater pumping, though representing a small portion (about 8-9%) of the total water budget, has significant long-term impacts as pumped water is eventually recharged from the river. Over time, this increases the depletion of river water, further stressing the water resources.

What is the largest contributor to water depletion in the Middle Rio Grande?

The largest contributor to water depletion is evapotranspiration from riparian vegetation, particularly from the Bosque and Cottonwood forests, which are important environmental assets but consume large amounts of water.

What is the public perception regarding water data and management in New Mexico?

The public perceives a lack of sufficient water data and believes that sustainability should be a top priority. This is backed by a poll showing that voters across New Mexico agree that more water data is needed to address the state’s water management challenges.

What steps have been taken to improve water data management in New Mexico?

In 2019, New Mexico passed the Water Data Act, which aims to consolidate and improve the accessibility of water data. However, progress has been slow due to limited funding and much of the state's crucial water data still being stored in non-interoperable formats like paper records.