R.G. Water Conservation District addresses ag conference

Marissa Fricke, program manager for subdistrict one with the Rio Grande Water Conservation District, presented an update to local farmers during the 2019 Southern Rocky Mountain Agricultural Conference and Trade Show.  Photo by Anthony Guerrero

MONTE VISTA— There were 250,000 acre feet of groundwater pumped in 2018. That is according to Marisa Fricke, program manager for subdistrict one for the Rio Grande Conservation District. Fricke presented this fact and others in an update she gave to the 2019 Southern Rocky Mountain Agricultural Conference and Trade Show on Thursday, Feb. 7.
“That is the highest pumping we have seen since 2012. It was higher in 2012 by roughly 9,000 acre feet,” she said.
Fricke pointed out that at one time the pumping was in the 300,000 acre feet range, but commended everyone for helping to reduce those numbers. The trending incline however is being reviewed by the conservation district and the state engineer.
Fricke shared that the aquifer had been gaining in storage. “Then 2018 happened. What we gained in three years, we lost in one,” she said. This is due to severe drought that plagued the Valley during 2018.
“To put it into perspective, all wells would have to be stopped to regain all that we lost— just puts into perspective how hard 2018 was for all of us.”
The subdistrict has 12 years to reach proper pumping levels, according to Fricke. So far seven years have been used up and last year made catching up even more difficult.
The state engineer has sent a letter to the subdistrict stating that he understands challenges, but believes the proper goal is attainable and the situation is critical. “In the letter he emphasized we need to make that goal and if it’s undeniable that we are not able to reach that recovery, he will decline our ARP,” said Fricke. That would translate into all wells in subdistrict one being shut off.
“We can imagine what big of an impact that would be for everyone in the Valley. We know how big subdistrict one is,” said Fricke. She stated she gets many questions about how that would work. “Right now we just have to understand it as he would decline those documents until we get other directives or more information,” she said.
Fricke then shared the five year averages for surface water. She said that even though there were such dry years, there were decent numbers to work with for pumping. “This is a subdistrict benefit. You can imagine the importance so we can still use it on our farming.”
Fricke then updated the conference on what can be done differently and what is being done to address the situation. A doppler radar will soon be installed at the Alamosa airport, announced Fricke. The radar will help release more accurate numbers for the use of the water community. Telemetry units have also been installed in all of the test wells in subdistrict one.


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