State and Federal partners coordinating to ensure safety and access to water
SANTA FE, N.M. –The Office of the State Engineer and the Interstate Stream Commission, along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Bureau of Reclamation, continue to work closely together to manage Rio Grande water operations and establish a channel for the river after a sediment plug formed in the Rio Chama following an intense rainfall on June 20.
USACE is conducting flood control operations by managing releases from Abiquiu Reservoir within their authorities to minimize effects. To ensure that water rights holders receive the available water and to maintain compliance with the Rio Grande Compact, the OSE/ISC has provided Reclamation with state funding to mobilize crews and specialized equipment to clear a channel through the sediment plug, which was approximately 100-feet wide, 4 to 5 feet deep, and over a mile long. Until channel capacity in the Rio Chama can be restored to safely release higher flows from Abiquiu Reservoir, flows on the Rio Chama will be restricted and San Juan-Chama Project water may not be released from Abiquiu Reservoir. This is resulting in lower flows through the Middle Rio Grande.
The state and federal agencies will continue to monitor and respond to the situation and work throughout the Rio Grande Basin to ensure that New Mexicans remain safe and have access to their designated water allocations.
