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Think SNOW!... Rio Grande Level Very Low.
After a tremendous year of rain and snow in 2004, 2005 has been just the opposite. There has been a swing from 130% of normal to just 8 % in2005. Luckily for water users, "both the Elephante Butte and El Paso" Water Districts "saved 130,000 acres feet of water last year" as a precaution, said Jesus "Chuy" Reyes, General Manager of EPCWID # 1.
Still, the problem of balancing the financial health of the water districts and providing a portion of the water is a precarious one. The districts fell into financial hard times during the last few years before 2005 when they were not able to allocate more than a trickle of water. Farmers were not paying for "extra" water which wasn't there and therefore revenues fell.
Reyes has noted that the "Board has approved an initial allocation of 24 inches (2 acre feet) and approve more within the month." This may rob from 2007 to quench 2006. If the district doesn't approve more than the 24 inches which are paid for by the taxes... and don't obtain extra revenue from "extra" water (over 2 acre feet) then the district will have to make tough financial choices.
(Photos: Brax - Valley Publishing Company)
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Editor, Upper Valley Beacon
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