WildEarth Guardians

Friday, June 13, 2014
Water Acquisition Program Endorsed for Rio Grande

Water Acquired to Support Living River
Contact: Jen Pelz 303-884-2702

Washington–Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced legislation in Congress today that would mandate the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation establish and operate a water acquisition program in the Rio Grande basin—as well as other river basins in New Mexico—for the purpose of enhancing flows in the river to benefit fish and wildlife, water quality and to restore our river ecosystems.

In addition to establishing a water acquisition program, the New Mexico Drought Relief Act of 2014 would provide incentives for conservation and efficient use of water in agriculture, funding for the development of a comprehensive plan for restoration of the stretch of the Rio Grande that contains the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, and commission a study by the National Academy of Sciences to evaluate reservoir management and operation issues in the Rio Grande Basin.

“Acquiring water to ensure flows in our rivers has been a key strategy throughout the west to save imperiled waterways,” said Jen Pelz, Wild Rivers Program Director at WildEarth Guardians. “The long-term wellbeing of the region and our quality of life is dependent on a commitment to provide nature with its fair share of the water resource in the Rio Grande basin.”

The Act, further, directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the next five years to operate Cochiti Reservoir in a manner that ensures the opportunity for dynamic and high volume flows each spring to support aquatic and riparian ecosystems throughout the middle valley.

“We appreciate this effort by Senators Udall and Heinrich to advance solutions to protect our rivers,” added Pelz. “However, to chart a new course forward for the Rio Grande, a basin-wide solution, one that includes Colorado, is what is necessary for long-term restoration of flows in this Great River. Rivers do not abide by artificial political boundaries and neither should the scope of our solutions.”

The bill also calls for reoperation of Cochiti Reservoir to provide a spring peak flow in the river, which most water managers believe is an important tool. However Pelz argues the effort has little value if the Colorado’s water use is not recognized as a problem and considered as a solution. Sixty-five percent of the Rio Grande’s water originates in the mountains of southern Colorado; therefore, 65 percent of the solution is off the table unless Colorado steps up to be part of the solution.

“The Rio Grande has supported and sustained communities throughout the basin for centuries,” said Pelz. “It is time to implement bold solutions so we can sustain the river that sustains us.”