While summer rains are important to the Rio Grande water supply, this year’s monsoon has not delivered. Join NM State Climatologist Dr. David DuBois and Dr. Phil King to review the newest information about the Super El Niño, New Mexico’s Rio Grande water supplies, and the future. Norm Gaume, New Mexico Water Advocates president, will also present new insights about Middle Rio Grande compact compliance using data newly digitized from Interstate Stream Commission files.
A winter block release of 26,000 acre-feet of stored Rio Chama water was intended to reduce New Mexico’s Rio Grande Compact underdelivery. Hydrographs show that much of the water never reached Elephant Butte Reservoir. The Middle Rio Grande absorbed it.