[Awclist] Fwd: El Vado Release For Friday April 11

[Steve Harris]

KELLY: An average season on the Chama distributes about 250-300,000  
acre feet to serve San Juan-Chama project contractors like  
Albuquerque, for Chama Valley and  Middle Rio Grande Valley  
irrigators, including the Pueblos' Prior and Paramount rights, water  
acquired for silvery minnow and for deliveries New Mexico must make   
to Elephant Butte Reservoir.  2014 will have about 150-180,000 acre- 
feet to release as streamflow.  Ordinary irrigators in MRGCD will be  
out of water by the end of June (much like last year), but the San  
Juan-Chama water should persist all season, albeit in amounts less  
than in years of full supply.  This projection is based on  
conversations with Reclamation and Corps of Engineers, who will be  
announcing the El Vado Reservoir Annual Operating Plan in the near  
future

So, here is how I see it unfolding:  Runoff has already begun. By  
early May, the river will be running about 500 cfs, a level which  
should persist until MRGCD's supplies are exhausted.  Weekend  
recreational releases, using Albuquerque WUA water should begin about  
July 4th, running 200-250 during the week and 500-550 on weekends.

For boaters with summer weekend launches, these flows will permit them  
to run their trips (assuming that they have developed sufficient water  
reading and boat-control skills) and the Monastery run will be  
possible on Saturdays and Sundays.  May through mid-June should  
feature similarly runnable conditions throughout the week.  There may  
also be a peak flow release of about 1500 cfs occurring next weekend  
or the first weekend of May.

Rumors of no releases are based on insufficient information. The  
snowpack IS bad, but let's not be hysterical.  Farmers and utilities  
will manage to get what water there is. Looking ahead, both El Vado  
and Heron will likely end  the season with precious little remaining  
in storage.

I'll add you to my list for periodic updates.  Thanks for helping  
spread the word.

For rivers, Steve

On Apr 11, 2014, at 12:27 PM, Kelly Gossett wrote:

> Hi Steve, what do you know about the Chama flow for this year?  Can  
> you include me on your distribution for this?  I've heard people  
> from AWC say "there won't be any releases this year" ....I  
> understand they can't send water if they don't have it, but comments  
> like this start rumors quickly...
> Thanks,
> Kelly
>
>
> New Mexico Kayak Instruction, Inc.
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Steve Harris
Far-Flung Adventures/Rio Grande Restoration
HCR 69 Box 3-C
Embudo, NM 87531

home/office: 575-751-1269
fax: same
Mobile: 575-770-2502

steve.harris39 at gmail.com