About the Gila Settlement
The
Gila Settlement was signed into law in December 2004 as part of the Arizona Water Settlements Act. The settlement allows New Mexico to divert up to 14,000 acre-feet per year from the Gila and San Francisco Rivers and provides up to $128 million in federal subsidy for construction of a project.
The
Consumptive Use and Forbearance Agreement (CUFA) is the
legal agreement under the Settlement that governs the conditions
under which New Mexico can divert water without harming downstream
senior water rights holders. The diversion parameters do not
take into consideration minimum flows and other critical parameters
necessary to protect the river's ecosystem. If water were
diverted according to the CUFA, flows on the Gila River would
be reduced primarily in winter and spring. More data and research
are needed however to address more specifically the potential
impacts to the ecological values of the river.
Following
through on Governor Richardson’s June 2007 policy statement,
the Interstate Stream Commission (ISC) initiated in late October
2007 a series of four workshops for stakeholders involved
in discussions of how funding and water will be used under
the Arizona Water Settlements Act (AWSA). The workshops brought
together municipal and agricultural water users, local governments,
conservation groups and state and federal water and wildlife
management agencies to discuss critical issues in the planning
process and facilitate consensus on key goals and objectives
for moving forward under the AWSA.
As a result of a lack of agreement regarding the Gila planning
process, Governor Richardson vetoed $945,000 for “ Gila Basin
water development” during the 2007 legislative session. The
Gila-San Francisco Coordinating Committee process has been
on hiatus ever since. The Governor’s policy statement laid
the groundwork for developing a new planning process that
establishes Gila River protection as a priority as New Mexico
implements the AWSA and for redirecting the Gila planning
process to analyze the range of alternatives, “with the ‘no
diversion option’ as an essential part of the analysis.”
Participants in the workshops agreed to the need for increased
stakeholder involvement, use of a consensus-based process,
and need for identification and evaluation of the feasibility
of all water supply alternatives for southwestern New Mexico.
The group also developed a consensus goal for the planning
process:
“Utilize the AWSA in a cost-effective manner to balance historical
and future demands against uncertain supply while protecting
the environment.”
Established as a result of the fall 2007 workshops, the Stakeholder Group agreed to support the Interstate Stream Commission’s 2008 appropriation request of $1.5 million and the categories of “studies” that the appropriation would fund. An appropriation of $800,000 was approved by the legislature. In 2009, the legislature approved an extension of time to expend the appropriation until June 30, 2010.
Accomplishments to Date:
Established an organizational structure for the decision process i.e., AWSA Stakeholders Group * Developed a Stakeholder Consensus Goal (see above) * Developed a Planning Framework outlining steps in planning process * Identified consensus-based Desired Future Conditions * Studies completed totaling ~$400K - $500K (i.e. 2009 Gila Science Forum, Economic Forum, supply studies, and information compilation). * Consensus reached among stakeholders on priorities for the remainder of the funding (~$300K - $400K) and work plans have been developed or are in process to accomplish the following work by June 30, 2010.
- · Demand studies (agricultural and mining sectors; municipal demand management)
- · Development of surface/groundwater interaction model
- · Screening level evaluation of Gila Basin Irrigation Commission projects
- · Retain services of facilitator
Using an FY08 $590,000 appropriation to the Bureau of Reclamation, BOR staff developed a planning framework that currently guides the planning process, ensuring that the range of studies is conducted to determine how southwestern New Mexico can best utilize the benefits of the AWSA and meet the future water needs of the region.
The Gila Conservation believes that fully integrating stakeholders in an open and transparent planning process and looking objectively at all of the feasible alternatives will improve our chances for a successful outcome. To that end, we support implementation of the BOR planning framework in order to objectively define the region’s future water needs and the most cost-effective alternatives to meeting those needs.
The Arizona Water Settlements Act (AWSA) Stakeholders Group held three forums to further the public’s understanding of available economic tools for water planning, a potential framework for evaluating hypothetical withdrawals from the Gila River, and preliminary information on water supply in southwestern New Mexico. The AWSA planning process was established to reach consensus on how to utilize the AWSA in a cost-effective manner to balance historical and future demands for water against uncertain supply while protecting the environment.
The Gila Economic Forum was held May 28 and brought together eight experts to present a range of decision-making tools available for water planning under the AWSA. Dr. David Gutzler, climatologist at the University of New Mexico, described the predicted impacts of climate change on Gila River flows. “Streamflows in southwestern rivers, especially in snow-fed rivers like the Gila, are expected to decrease significantly in this century. It is possible that the Gila Basin could lose its snowpack altogether by the end of the 21st Century, effectively eliminating seasonal snowmelt runoff. Streamflows from late winter into early summer would decrease most markedly.” These predictions have serious implications for efforts to spend millions to divert water from the Gila River under the AWSA. If flows become significantly diminished, why build a large scale diversion project that may not be used given the constraints of the AWSA, endangered species and other considerations? Lower-cost alternatives are available to the region to meet future water needs that do not rely on an unreliable surface water supply.
Dr. John Loomis of Colorado State University discussed tools to estimate the non-market value of river instream flows, such as the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). Non-market values are routinely used by the EPA, USBOR, and Army Corps of Engineers in their benefit-cost analyses for estimating the value of environmental goods. Although these methods are not perfect, studies have shown that the economic value of environmental goods is not zero and therefore needs to be included in benefit-cost comparisons. This is an important consideration as the AWSA planning process evaluates the benefits and costs of diverting river flows for consumptive use versus maintaining instream flows.
Dr. Jim Peach of New Mexico State University did not address demographic projections as was anticipated and only discussed historical population trends in the four-county region. This is a critical omission that will need to be addressed to estimate future water demand for the area.
Additional presentations included estimation of residential and commercial water supply benefits, water markets for river systems, estimating agricultural benefits under changing water supply conditions, and integrating science and policy for water management on the San Pedro River. A final report is available at: www.awsaplanning.com/Forum_reports.html
Comprised of six experts, the Gila Science Forum was held on June 3 to identify, discuss and recommend ways of determining the potential effects of flow modification on aquatic and riparian resources of the Gila River. A final report is still not complete, but will be available for download from www.awsaplanning.com . A critical factor in understanding the dynamic Gila ecosystem according to panel members is that any stress applied to any part of the drainage will ultimately affect all biophysical processes throughout the watershed. Characterization of the watershed is of utmost importance so that planning and implementation can be done within a robust decision-making framework where any action is least likely to cause irreversible impact. It is necessary to assemble a multi-disciplinary team to fully assess the range of potential impacts to the Gila River from any water withdrawal project.
Finally, preliminary results on southwestern New Mexico water supplies were presented to the AWSA stakeholders on June 17. A key finding included the fact that hydrologically, there is likely adequate groundwater for Silver city according to David Jordan of Interra. Silver City will need to acquire additional water rights at some point in the future, but it’s an administrative issue rather than a question of physical water availability. Although groundwater has dropped a modest half foot/year in the Deming area over the past 68 years, trends show that irrigated acreage is declining and there is also significant conversion to water conserving drip irrigation rather than flood irrigation. Additionally, Deborah Hathaway of SS Papadopulos & Associates indicated that existing uses are currently impacting stream flows on the Gila. More study would be required to determine if additional water supply can be provided from the Gila Basin without undesired impacts to river flows.
The contractors will continue to work on follow-up supply tasks over the next fiscal year. Estimation of future water demand remains a critical task for completion over the next 12 months.
An update on these reports and subsequent planning tasks will be discussed at the July 13 AWSA Implementation/Technical Committee meeting (agenda here) and Stakeholder's Meeting (agenda here.)
11/26/08
The AWSA Planning Process maintains a webpage that contains meeting agendas, minutes, and presentations from all of the Stakeholder Group meetings at www.awsaplanning.com
What is your vision of a water future for Southwestern New Mexico? About 30 stakeholders from the area spent a beautiful Saturday morning at a recent workshop designed to solicit input on this important question. The meeting was held as part of the Arizona Water Settlements Act (AWSA) water planning process that was established to find consensus on how to utilize the AWSA in a cost-effective manner to balance historical and future water demands against uncertain supply while protecting the environment. The AWSA provides New Mexico consumptive use of an additional 14,000 acre-feet of water per year from the Gila and San Francisco Rivers and a federal subsidy of $66 million to meet water supply needs regardless of whether additional water is developed in the Upper Gila Basin.
Definition of Desired Future Conditions (DFC) is the first step in outlining planning objectives, strategies and alternatives for the AWSA water planning process. For instance, if one’s vision is for a dependable supply of water to meet the needs of the various interests in the region, what are the strategies that might be used to meet this objective? They might be water reuse strategies, water conservation, groundwater management, etc.
Stakeholders representing municipal and state governments, irrigators, conservation community, business sector and general public were given 5 minutes each to present their DFC statement and supporting information. Not surprisingly, there was common ground among most stakeholders around the theme of sustainable balance of our water resources, with many mentioning the need to do this in a cost-effective manner. Water conservation in the municipal, agricultural and industrial sectors was also highlighted as a critical need.
Allyson Siwik, speaking on behalf of GRIP and the Gila Conservation Coalition, stated that the groups’ vision for the future is that the communities of Southwestern New Mexico work together to live within their means by balancing present and future human water use with available water supply and the water needs of the environment. The water budget – an inventory of water supply and demand combined with an understanding of the relationship between them -- is the tool that can be used to balance a variety of water uses with available supply. The water needs of the environment, such as ecosystems associated with springs, streams and rivers, also need to factor into the equation.
Siwik stated that balancing the water budget in a practical and cost-effective manner is necessary, and municipal and agricultural water conservation – reducing water use -- provides the greatest opportunity for cost-effectively increasing water supply. For example, the Town of Silver City water efficiency study estimated that conservation measures could produce total demand reductions of 30 – 45%. (The Gila Conservation Coalition’s economic analysis shows that municipal conservation is a more economical alternative than drilling new wells or a diversion project. See “Potential Economic Costs of a Gila River Diversion: Meeting Future Water Supply Needs in Silver City and the Central Mining District” here) Already Silver City’s Water Utilities Department has reduced per capita water demand by fixing leaks, upgrading its water distribution system, and implementing a water pricing structure that charges more for increased water use.
In the agricultural sector, farmers in Luna County have made great progress over the past 5 years in reducing their water use through implementation of drip irrigation. According to the SWNM Regional Water Plan, irrigated agriculture is the largest consumer of water in Luna County (95% of total withdrawal in 2000). Tom Bates, spokesperson for the City of Deming, reported at the workshop that to date, conversion to drip from flood irrigation has saved 30,000 afy – approximately the same amount of water that is being “mined” from the Mimbres Basin aquifer.
The Town of Silver City is interested in balancing the water budget in a sustainable, cost-effective manner. Community Development Director, Peter Russell, also identified integration of the water distribution system between Silver City and the Mining District as a means of realizing efficiencies in management of the region’s water resources. He pointed out that New Mexico’s administrative Critical Block System is an impediment to effective water management. Given that mining giant Freeport-McMoRan owns 40,000 afy of water rights in the area while the municipalities of Silver City and the Mining District combined own only 6000 afy, ending the Critical Block System would allow water rights to be transferred to where water is needed for municipal use. Russell also highlighted the possible threat of Southwest New Mexico’s water being a target for export once the mines cease operations, which could threaten the water supplies of local communities.
Todd Schulke, speaking on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity and the Gila Conservation Coalition, stated his desire for protection of rivers in Southwestern New Mexico. He outlined a vision for balancing agricultural use and environmental flows on the Gila River and described a ditch head design that would keep water in the main channel of the Gila while also delivering water to irrigators. Most years during low flows, all of the Gila’s water is diverted into irrigation ditches leaving the main channel dewatered for up to 2 miles. Re-engineering the heads of the ditches would help maintain the river’s instream flow and riparian ecology.
Dutch Salmon, Gila Conservation Coalition chairman, described a future that includes improved watershed health for the Gila, San Francisco and Mimbres watersheds, thereby providing healthier habitats, boosting wildlife resources and increasing recreation benefits. He stressed that the aura and mystique of the Gila as New Mexico’s last wild river make it a unique recreational resource. According to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the state’s wildlife resources bring $1 billion to the state annually, with revenues from “appreciative users” such as birders accounting for half that total. Watershed improvements and Gila River protection, said Salmon, can play a key role in enhancing the region’s rural economy.
Topper Thorpe, representing the Gila Basin Irrigation Commission, described his group’s vision of a dependable, adequate water supply in the Gila River for irrigation, fire protection, recreation and environmental purposes. He stated that it was essential that the 14,000 afy of AWSA water be used. He said that according to the Office of the State Engineer, irrigators lost water rights in the Gila and San Francisco Rivers as a result of the Arizona v. California adjudication in 1964 and that those water rights need to be restored to irrigators. Cliff resident and irrigator, Mary Burton Riseley, took issue with this and asked that a legal analysis be done to verify its accuracy.
The Gila Conservation Coalition will continue to participate as stakeholders in the AWSA planning process to ensure that the range of water supply and demand management alternatives are analyzed. We seek to see that the area’s future water needs are met cost-effectively while protecting the environment.
One-page summaries of stakeholders’ Desired Future Conditions will be available on-line at www.awsaplanning.com . The next meeting of the AWSA Stakeholders Group will be Saturday, December 6; 8:30 am – 1pm at the Grant County Administration Building.
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