Editor's Note: The Beat's reporter was unable to attend this meeting, so these are the minutes of the meeting, as written by the GBIC secretary, B.J. Agnew

Gila Basin Irrigation Commission

October 1, 2014

Minutes

Present: Richard Dinwiddie, David Ogilvie, Ralph Hooker, Don Stailey, Martha Cooper, Topper Thorpe, BJ Agnew.

A quorum of the Gila Basin Irrigation Commission (GBIC) was determined to be present by the representation of the Upper Gila Irrigation Association, the Fort West Irrigation Association, and the Gila Farms Irrigation Association. And by proxy the Gila Hot Springs Irrigation Association, the Riverside Irrigation Association, and the Grandpa Harper Irrigation Association.

The minutes of the June 18, 2014 meeting of the GBIC were approved.

Presentations/Comments

Ditch Reports
The Gila Farms Ditch is getting water from the Fort West Ditch where the flood in Bear Creek washed out part of the dike. Much of this flood water flowed into the adjoining fields, and one home, South of Bear Creek. Don Stailey would like to stabilize the dike, when repaired, with cable and chain link. The Gila Farms ditch head was cleaned out and it is running well.
The Fort West Ditch is running well. There will probably be a need for some additional work on the diversion as the flow in the Gila River decreases.
The Upper Gila Ditch has a low volume flowing. It is highly likely that the diversion has been breached.
There was some discussion about having a meeting of these three Irrigation Associations to consider the situation on Bear Creek, and possibly Maldonado Canyon.

Updates/Action

The Interstate Stream Commission (ISC) had a meeting September 22, 2014.

• Concerns were expressed about the Colorado River Basin. Lake Mead is at 39% capacity and Lake Powell is at 52% capacity as of July 28, 2014. There is a need for adequate water to meet compact obligations and for the generation of electrical power. Colorado, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nebraska depend on the power generated by the hydroelectric stations of the Colorado River Basin. There have been many meetings between the Western States and the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to consider options if the drought continues and levels in the lakes continue to decline. The drought is not broken everywhere as monsoon and hurricane rains have been spotty.

• There was discussion of the Regional Water Plan. There are sixteen regions in New Mexico. Each of the 16 regions in the state must complete a water plan. It is important that all interests be represented on the planning committee in a region and those who are interested are encouraged to contact the ISC office to volunteer.

• Anthony Gutierrez, Grant County Planner, Gila/San Francisco Water Commission (GSFWC) Chairman, and lifetime local resident, presented the GSFWC interests and concerns at the last meeting of the Interstate Stream Commission (ISC). Some of his written comments were presented in the meeting. He noted that in the beginning of the Arizona Water Settlements Act (AWSA) the Southwest Water Planning Group (SWPG), or its successor, was to be the cooperating Agency with the ISC. The Southwest Water Planning Group became the Gila/San Francisco Water Commission, which is comprised of eighteen different entities, (of which the GBIC is one.) The ISC has a formidable task in identifying the New Mexico Unit projects. The GSFWC has always maintained that "It is all about the water." The GSFWC supports diversion projects, even if they do not happen in our lifetimes. Currently, there are eleven different diversions on the Gila River. The Bill Evans Diversion has been in place since the 1960s. This diversion has supplied water for mining operations in Grant County, and to Bill Evans Lake. The GSFWC should be included with the ISC to review and approve of expenditures of AWSA revenue from the New Mexico Unit.

• Following Gutierrez's comments Mark Valenzuela, who is First Vice President of George K. Baum and Co. described a finance plan to generate additional funds to cover the costs of whichever projects are finally selected.

• The Nature Conservancy (TNC) representatives presented "Gila River Flow Needs Assessment." Among the studies presented were: A hydrograph of the Gila River; Wildlife population linked to the flow; Fish population linked to the flow; How different things are inter-related; How the CUFA diversion and climate change have a negative effect on the fish and wildlife populations. This complete document can be accessed at nmconservation.org/Gila/GilaFlowNeedsAssessment.

• A preliminary decision, that was to be made in August, was postponed until November because all studies and/or findings on various projects were not yet available for review by the Commission. There will be an ISC meeting in October and at least one meeting in November 2014 where the ISC will make a decision on which project(s) to select.

• At this time, none of the fifteen projects have been discarded nor have any decisions been made about the projects under consideration

Old Business

None

New Business

None

Public Comment

It was suggested that we might use "Creative Financing" to facilitate the financial part of the AWSA.

Next Meetings

GBIC
To be announced