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Bridging-the-Headgate in New Mexico
Reclamation in New Mexico
The State of New Mexico is primarily served by Reclamation's Albuquerque Area Office, but some western portions of the state are also covered by three others. The northwestern corner is assisted by the Western Colorado Area Office in Durango, Colorado. The very southwestern corner is served by the Phoenix Area Office, and a small section of west-central New Mexico falls into the Lower Colorado Area headquartered in Boulder City, Nevada (see map, and table of contacts below).
Albuquerque Area Office - Albuquerque, New Mexico
The Albuquerque Area Office executed an agreement with the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer (NMOSE) in 1998 to provide assistance in water management planning, implement irrigation improvements, and conduct a series of water management workshops with acequia groups throughout New Mexico. NRCS is providing engineering designs and other technical support to NMOSE for this program. Reclamation and NRCS are jointly participating in the installation of automated canal control and monitoring systems as a part of this project.
Have River, Will Travel
New Mexico Rolling Rivers Study Program, “Have River, Will Travel”, is the new water education slogan in New Mexico. Several other western states are participating with Reclamation in a “rolling rivers” trailer program designed to train and educate the public and others about watersheds, water resource management, and conservation. Now up and running in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Montana, the program is centered around the use of mobile trailers designed and equipped with running water to simulate a working watershed and river system.
Other Activities
Reclamation’s Albuquerque Area Office provided funding and technical assistance through its Water Conservation Field Services Program. The New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts (NMACD) administers the program in partnership with Reclamation, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer. NMACD works through 47 local soil and water conservation districts in the state to coordinate the use and maintenance of the trailers and provide statewide training for their operation. NMACD schedules use of the trailers on their website and has produced an operation and maintenance training guide that has helped other states start up similar programs.Others activities with partners are:
- La Union Soil and Water Conservation District: program to provide soil, moisture and crop data through satellite imagery and on ground evaluation to assist producers in making decisions regarding effective water and fertilizer application. This project is in conjunction with Elephant Butte Irrigation District;
- Tierra y Montes Soil and Water Conservation District: partnered in developing Acequia Water Management Education Program to provide for improved water measurement, conveyance, and application;
- Carlsbad Irrigation District: provided technical and cost-shared financial support for water management and conservation planning and implementation of water measurement and telemetry system to provide better tracking of water and more efficient delivery to farms. Also developed program to demonstrate canal repair procedures to help reduce conveyance losses.
- Socorro Soil and Water Conservation District and La Joya Water District: provided technical and cost-shared financial assistance to install solar powered gate automation and water measurement telemetry to improve water conveyance efficiencies for on-farm deliveries;
- New Mexico Association of Conservation: partnered in science teacher training throughout New Mexico to promote water conservation and management.
Holistic Irrigation Technology
Through an agreement with La Union Soil and Water Conservation District, Reclamation provided funding to introduce Holistic Irrigation Technology (HIT) in the Mesilla Valley of southern New Mexico. "HIT", developed by NRCS, is designed to determine the water and chemical needs of crops through near infra-red photography and the use of GIS.
The Albuquerque office assisted several local districts evaluate the use of drip irrigation technology for maximizing water use efficiencies. Reclamation is working with the Socorro Soil and Water Conservation District and Lea County Soil and Water Conservation District on demonstrations of a prototype drip irrigation system. With technical assistance from the Socorro NRCS field office, the project is being conducted in cooperation with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District. Reclamation is also providing financial assistance for a drip irrigation demonstration sponsored by the Sierra Soil and Water Conservation District and the Jornada RC&D Area.
Drip Irrigation Technology
The Albuquerque office is also assisting several local districts to evaluate the use of drip irrigation technology for maximizing water use efficiencies. Reclamation is working with the Socorro Soil and Water Conservation District to support the demonstration of a prototype drip irrigation system. With technical assistance from the Socorro NRCS field office, the project is being conducted in cooperation with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District. Reclamation is also providing financial assistance for a drip irrigation demonstration sponsored by the Sierra Soil and Water Conservation District and the Jornada RC&D Area.
Western Colorado Area Office - Durango, Colorado
Two agreements are in place between Reclamation's Western Colorado Area Office in Durango and the Shiprock Soil & Water Conservation District to help support irrigation system improvements along the San Juan River in northwestern New Mexico. Current project activities include the installation of new pipe turnouts from existing farm ditches to enable the use of gated pipe, and the development of water management education programs.
