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www.WaterAssembly.orgwww.WaterAssembly.org(505) 797-4306(505) 797-4306

Bob WesselyBob Wessely867-3889867-3889

wessely@sciso.comwessely@sciso.com

April 5, 2008April 5, 2008

Water in the Water in the Middle Rio GrandeMiddle Rio Grande

Context PresentationContext Presentationforfor

Placitas Issues SessionPlacitas Issues Session

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Why Are We Here?Why Are We Here?

Only to Provide a Regional PerspectiveOnly to Provide a Regional Perspectivefor thefor the

Placitas Water SituationPlacitas Water Situation

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SummarySummaryDiverse Region; Over-Spending Its WaterDiverse Region; Over-Spending Its Water

Placitas Overview:Placitas Overview:Extensive 2002 Peggy Johnson Hydrogeology ReportExtensive 2002 Peggy Johnson Hydrogeology Report

New Mexico Tech Report OF-469 – Available in Placitas LibraryNew Mexico Tech Report OF-469 – Available in Placitas LibraryCharacteristics Vary Greatly from Place to PlaceCharacteristics Vary Greatly from Place to PlaceLaced with Geological Faults - “Shoebox Aquifers”Laced with Geological Faults - “Shoebox Aquifers”

Some Sources Disconnected, Others Cover Wide Areas Some Sources Disconnected, Others Cover Wide Areas Some Water in Rock Cracks, Some in Sandy Soils Some Water in Rock Cracks, Some in Sandy Soils

Residence Time of Groundwater Residence Time of Groundwater Some Ancient / Mined; Some Renewed by Recent PrecipitationSome Ancient / Mined; Some Renewed by Recent PrecipitationAge in Ground Ranges from 6 Months to 35,000 YearsAge in Ground Ranges from 6 Months to 35,000 Years

Slow Underground Flows - Generally toward Rio GrandeSlow Underground Flows - Generally toward Rio Grande

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The Regional Water PlanThe Regional Water Plan

• Seven Years in the Making; Seven Years in the Making; Accepted in 2004Accepted in 2004

• Unusually Active and Intense Unusually Active and Intense General Public InvolvementGeneral Public Involvement

• Sound Scientific and Technical BasisSound Scientific and Technical Basis

• Agricultural, Developmental, Agricultural, Developmental, Governmental, Environmental, Legal, Governmental, Environmental, Legal,

and Hydrological Stakeholder Participation and Hydrological Stakeholder Participation

A Basis for Moving ForwardA Basis for Moving Forward

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The Regional Water Budget – 1972-1997The Regional Water Budget – 1972-1997

Open Water Open Water EvaporationEvaporation52,000 af/yr 52,000 af/yr

16%16%

Irrigated Irrigated Agriculture and Agriculture and

Valley Floor TurfValley Floor Turf105,000 af/yr105,000 af/yr

33%33%

Riparian Riparian Evapo-transpirationEvapo-transpiration

69,000 af/yr69,000 af/yr22%22%

Consumptions:Consumptions:Residential, Residential,

Industrial, Industrial, MunicipalMunicipal

90,000 af/yr90,000 af/yr 29% 29%

Four Similar Sized Sectors in the RegionFour Similar Sized Sectors in the Region

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55,000 Acre Feet is 18 Billion Gallons55,000 Acre Feet is 18 Billion GallonsEnough to Fill a Football Field 7Enough to Fill a Football Field 7½½ Miles Deep, Every Year ! Miles Deep, Every Year !

The Regional Water Budget Bottom LineThe Regional Water Budget Bottom Line

Inflows Inflows 261,000 261,000

af/yraf/yr

ConsumptionConsumption316,000316,000

af/yraf/yrDeficitDeficit55,00055,000

af/yraf/yr

Ongoing Deficit Spending of Water – 15-20%Ongoing Deficit Spending of Water – 15-20%Last Quarter of the 20Last Quarter of the 20thth Century Century

77

Wettest Quarter Century in 2000 YearsWettest Quarter Century in 2000 Years

Average rainfall 14.5 inches/year

Chaco Canyon abandoned

Rainfall Over 2000 Years in New Mexico

Mesa Verde abandoned

BC AD

Tree rings from El Malpais National Monument (Henri Grissino-Mayer)

Last Quarter Century

We Were Overspending When We Were FlushWe Were Overspending When We Were Flush

+20%+20%

-20%-20%

avg.avg.

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Aquifers in the Aquifers in the Albuquerque Albuquerque

Area Area are Drawn Down are Drawn Down

1960 to 20001960 to 2000

Source: U.S. Geological Survey - 2003

Paseo Paseo del Nortedel Norte

Rio BravoRio Bravo

I-25I-25

I-40I-40 I-40I-40

I-25I-25

MontañoMontaño

Puts a Substantial Drain on River FlowsPuts a Substantial Drain on River Flows

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The Population is GrowingThe Population is Growing

Three Quarters of New Mexico’s New Residents Move HereThree Quarters of New Mexico’s New Residents Move Here

MRG Population Past and Present - 1910 to 2030

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

1910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2005 2015 2025

Bernalillo

Sandoval

Valencia

1010

… … and the World is Warmingand the World is Warming

1900 2000 21001900 2000 2100

+9+9º F.º F.

-3-3º F.º F.

00º F.º F.

New Mexico Temperature Change New Mexico Temperature Change

SummerSummer

WinterWinter

Which Will Have ConsequencesWhich Will Have Consequences

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• Temperature IncreasesTemperature Increases

• Snowpack DecreasesSnowpack Decreases

• Soil Moisture DecreasesSoil Moisture Decreases

• Evaporation IncreasesEvaporation Increases

• Longer / Deeper DroughtsLonger / Deeper Droughts

• Fewer, More Intense Rain EventsFewer, More Intense Rain Events

… … With Resulting ImplicationsWith Resulting Implications

We Should Expect Less Available Surface Water We Should Expect Less Available Surface Water

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The Challenge:The Challenge:For Each Person, For Each Entity, For Each LevelFor Each Person, For Each Entity, For Each Level

Think CooperativelyThink Cooperatively

Think BroadlyThink Broadly

Think Wet WaterThink Wet Water

Beyond Boundaries of JurisdictionBeyond Boundaries of Jurisdiction Beyond Duration of Term of OfficeBeyond Duration of Term of Office Beyond One’s Own Special InterestsBeyond One’s Own Special Interests Beyond Our Current GenerationBeyond Our Current Generation

Think Water First !Think Water First !

For Our Grandchildren, and for Their GrandchildrenFor Our Grandchildren, and for Their Grandchildren

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Got Water?Got Water?