[Awclist] Rio Chama Flows Update

[Carlson, Mary]

Hello all.
It's that time of year again.
We are again coordinating with our stakeholders to try to move water on the
weekends to allow for rafting flows on the Rio Chama between Memorial Day
and Labor Day. This year, the City of Santa Fe is working with us to move
its San Juan-Chama water. I'm sorry to report that the flows will not be
going up for this weekend. I feel horribly that I told a few of you who
contacted me individually last week that flows were expected to go up to
about 300 last weekend. The fact is the flows right now are 100 percent
dependent on the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District's need. The
rainfall in Albuquerque over the last few weeks drove them to make a
last-minute decision not to take any water from El Vado last weekend.
But, starting on Friday May 22nd, the release from El Vado will increase to
between 500 and 600 cfs. The dam tender usually increases the release
before noon on Friday's and reduces the release before noon on Sundays. We
plan to have this flow every weekend through May, June and most of July. We
may have a weekend or two toward the end of July where we're cutting it
close on supply. I'll send out an update at that time to see where things
stand. However, it looks like another San Juan-Chama contractor will need
to move its water in August and September so we should have good flows
then. So, I think that's about it. I apologize to those of you who were out
there last weekend or had plans to be out there this weekend. But we look
forward to having some good weekend flows starting May 22nd.
Thanks to all of you for your patience.
As always, you can individually e-mail me for any specifics.
Mary Carlson
Public Affairs Specialist
Bureau of Reclamation
Albuquerque Area Office
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