Arch Hurley votes no

Despite recent rains and a light mist falling on the morning of its meeting, the Arch Hurley Conservancy District board last week voted again to not allocate any Conchas Lake water to its irrigation system because of persistent drought.

District manager Franklin McCasland reported during the May 11 meeting that Conchas Lake’s water level was 4,158.5 feet that morning. Board President Robert Lopez noted that was about one foot lower than the previous month.

McCasland said the lake in April had an intake of 398 acre-feet of water but lost 2,643 acre-feet due to evaporation and other losses.

The previous month, McCasland said snowpack during the winter was only 87% of normal through early April.

The district cannot discharge any water by gravity feed when the lake’s level drops lower than 4,162 feet, though it is possible to pump water from the lake to the 4,155-foot level.

A year ago, the lake’s level was 4.173.7 feet, or 15 feet higher.

After McCasland’s report, Lopez said he was tempted to skip over the agenda item on whether the board would allocate water, saying it was “a sore spot.” The board then officially voted to decline allocation after no more discussion.

It was the second straight month in the middle of growing season that the board had not allocated water from the lake. It was the first time since 2017 the district had not allocated water for the beginning of the growing season.

The U.S. Drought Monitor showed as of May 13, much of Quay County remained in extreme or severe drought, with the southwestern part of the county in exceptional drought.

Virtually all of southeast New Mexico and much of southwest and northern New Mexico were in an exceptional drought.

In other business:

• McCasland said New Mexico Game & Fish and Ducks Unlimited recently resumed efforts to restore Tucumcari Lake after being delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He said they recently mowed down much of the salt cedar, cottonwood and elm trees along the banks. The groups also are moving forward to consider several plans and designs for the lake and buy remaining lots from its owners. McCasland said they would drill a well so they could refill the lake and turn it into a wildlife habitat.

• McCasland said the district soon would send letters to crop insurance providers to help farmers collect on drought claims.

• The board voted to renew its membership with the Eastern Plains Council of Governments.