WCD-RChristianson 

WTR-4.13 

Mr. Scott Verhines. PE 

State Engineer 

Office of the State Engineer 

State of New Mexico 

P.O. Box 25102 

Santa Fe, NM 87504 

FEB 19 2013/ 

Subject: Proposed Operating Plan for Navajo Reservoir, Navajo Uni~. Colorado River Storage 

Project, Colorado and New Mexico 

Dear Mr. Verhines: 

Public Law 87-483, Section ll direc~ the Bureau of Reclamation to app<>rtiori shortages to entitled 

users of Navajo Reservoir storage water, on a pro-rata basis, ill the event sl)ortages are anticipated. 

Current conditions (inflow forecast and reservoir content) indicate that a shortage is a possibility this 

year. Notwithstanding the direction provided in § 11. a group often water users has developed an · 

agreement among themselves as to how they will allocate.~ Waiter supply ip a sho~ge situation 

("Recommendations for San Juan River Operations and Administratio11.fQ~ 2013 .. 2()16• July:2• 2012"). • . ' ... ·. . .. 

Because Reclamation has no ability to control or influence agreements among water users, and 

bec:ause this agreement .among the users will not cause Reclamation to. undertake any change in its 

operations from how we would operate under §I l~ the recorrimendations fall 'within our anticipated 

operating plans for 2013 through 2016. We also anticipate that operations under§ll will not"~ 

releases to fall below the minimum allowable release rate from Navajo I)am. ·· · · ,.. . . . ;::,.,<).~';'~.:\ 

.. ; =·.<~·;:.t 

We have received endorsement fetters from the foHowing Navajo dtii'feontnic:tors and 

subcontractors, aU endorsing this same plan: 

Arizona Public Service Company 

BHP Navajo Coal Company 

Hammond Conservancy District 

Jicarilla Apache Nation 

NavtMo Natioti 

Public Service Company ofNew Mexico 

ln.~~~;;;~::l~of~o~~Uum.~~~ Farmers Mutual Ditch v~ -o'l 

Jewett Valley Ditch ~eO ..... 

conformed by-~;;;.;..~-­ Updated by 

Coded by 

Filed by 

·-----~---
While Reclamation recognizes these recommendations as a temporary solution to providing some 

means of water rights administration, we encourage the State Engineer to continue proceeding· 

towards promulgation of rules and regulations for administering water rights within the San Juan 

River Basin in New Mexico. Also, please be advised that Reclamation's acknowledgementofthese 

recommendations does not constitute endorsement of any disclaimers included in any parties' 

endorsement letter. 

I offer my thanks to you and staff members of the Office of the State Engineer and the New Mexico 

Interstate Stream Commission who helped facilitate the development of these recommendati<ms. 

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Ryan Christianson of our Western Colorado Area 

Office at 970-385-6:5:90, or by email at rchristianson@usbr.gov. 

Siru:erely, / 

~()~ 

~c~~u BRENT RHEG~ 

cc: Mr. Michael Howe / 

Bureau of Indian Affairs · 

Navajo Indian Irrigation Project 

304 North Auburn, Suite B 

Farmington, NM 87401 

Honorable Ben Shelly 

President 

Navajo Nation 

c/o Department ofNatund Resources 

P.O. Box 9000 

Window Rock, AZ 86515 

Honorable Alan Vauwm{ 

President 

Hammond Conservancy District 

790 Road.4990 · 

Bloomfield, NM 87413' 

Mr. Robert: Lotts 7· 

Arizona Public Service Company 

P.O. Box 53999 Ms:..9424 

Phoenix, AZ 85072-3999 

·--------··~-·--·~-·~-............. _ _,._.... _____ .~--,.--

Larry Walkoviak 

Regional Oirector 

Mr. David Campbell 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service . . . New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office 

2105 Osuna Road NE 

Albuquerque,NM 87113·1001 

Honorable Ty v;tenli ./ 

President · 

Jicarilla Apache Nation 

P.O. Box 709 

DulCe, NM 87528 . / 

Mr. Mike Greene V ·· 

Public Service ¢0n1pariy ofN~· Me,q99I~t 

2401 Aztec N;E. 

Albuquerque,NM 87107 

Mr. Pat Risner/ 

Vice President 

BHP Navajo Coal Company 

300 WestAITington .. Suite 200 

· Farmington1

.NM 87401 

2 
Mr. James Rogers / 

Jewett Valley Water Users Association 

P.O. Box 91 

Waterflow, NM 87421 

Honorable Tommy Roberts / 

Mayor C/' 

City ofFannington 

800 Municipal Drive 

Fannington, NM 87401 / 

Mr. Kevin Flanigan ~ New Mexico Interstate Stream 

Commission 

P.O. Box 25102 

Santa Fe, NM 87504-5102 

Mr. Jason John V 

Navajo Nation 

Water Management Branch 

P.O. Drawer 678 

Fort Defiance, AZ 86504 

Carroll Crawford · --~/ Bloomfield Irrigati~istrict 

Mr. Lawrence Stock / 

Fanners Mutual Ditch 

P.O. Box467 

Kirtland, NM 87417 

Mr. Blaine Watson / 

New Mexico Office of the State Engineer 

I 00 Gossett Drive, Suite A 

Aztec, NM 87410 

Mr. Tsosie Lewis, CEO v 

Navajo Agricultural Products Industry 

P.O. Drawer 1318 

Fannington, NM 87499 

Mr. Martin Dun~an V 

San Juan River Dineh Water Users Inc. 

P. 0. Box3688 

Shiprock, NM $742() 

P.O. Box 606 L 

Bloomfield, NM 87413 

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Mr. Robert Lott~ 

Arizona Pu~Jic Service Company 

P.O. Bo7'53999 MS 9424 

Phoe¢, AZ 85072-3999 

Mr. James ~9gers 

Jewett V~y Water District 

P.O. ~91 

Waterflow, NM 87421 

Honorable Tammy Roberts 

Mayor · 

City of F~ington 

800 M;u1icipal Drive 

Farmington, NM 87401 

Mr. Kevin Flanigan 

New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission 

P.O. Box 25l02 

Santa F~,"NM 87504-5102 

<... 

Mr. Jason John 

Navajo Nation 

Water Management Branch 

P.O. Drawer 678 

Fort Defiance, AZ 86504 

Carroll Crawford 

Bloomfielq.;lhigation District 

P.O. Boz~06 

Bloomfield, NM 87413 

Mr. Pat Risner / 

Vice F·tesident 

BHP Navajo Coal Company 

300 West Arrington, Suite 200 

Farmington, NM 87401 

Mr. Lawrence Stock 

Farmers Mutual Ditch 

P.O. Box467 

Kirtland, NM 87417 

Mr. Blain )Vatson 

New Mex'ico Office ofthe State Engineer 

I 00 Gossett Drive, Suite A 

Aztec, NM 87410 

Mr. Tsosie Lewis 

CEO 

Navajo Agricultural Products Industry 

P.O. Drawer 1318 

Farmington, NM 87499 

Mr. Martin Duncan 

San Juan .PQ(er Dineh Water Users Inc. 

P.O. Bfu'3688 

Shiprock, NM 87420 

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