Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Despite recent rainstorms that raised Conchas Lake’s levels, the Arch Hurley Conservancy District board voted again last week to not allocate any water to its irrigation system.
Franklin McCasland, the district’s manager, told the board during its regular meeting July 13 the lake’s elevation the previous day was 4,161.8 feet — an increase of two feet from a month ago. Conchas Lake received 2,751 acre-feet of water during the month of June, with evaporation and other losses of 2,590 acre-feet.
However, the lake’s level remains seven feet below the 4,168.8 elevation recorded in July 2020. Earlier this spring, the lake was 15 feet below the same period a year ago.
Arch Hurley conceivably can release water into its canals by gravity feed once the lake reaches above an elevation of 4,162 feet.
McCasland said in response to a follow-up question he wouldn’t feel comfortable releasing water until the lake reaches a level of 4,174 feet, especially when summer heat exacerbates evaporation losses.
Conchas Lake would need another 12 feet of water before the board could consider allocating it, he said.
This year is the first time since 2017 that no water has been allocated to area farmers during growing season.
Water can be pumped from the lake to the 4,155-foot level, but McCasland previously said that option is not economically feasible because of fuel costs.
McCasland said the district has enough money to get through this year if drought conditions persist. If the drought drags into 2022, he said the district may have to tap into its reserves.
Drought conditions have eased in eastern New Mexico, according to a July 15 map of the U.S. Drought Monitor. The northern half of Quay County no longer is in a drought, while the southern half is abnormally dry or in a moderate drought.
Much of the north-central, northwest, west-central and southwest parts of the state remain in exceptional drought conditions. The western half of neighboring De Baca County also remains in extreme drought.
In other business:
• The district this month mailed assessments to all unpaid Class A property owners. As of July 1, Arch Hurley had collected just 36% of its assessments.
• The district recently received a refund from its worker’s compensation provider, Builders Trust. Arch Hurley does not have any open claims, and its last injury claim was in 2018, McCasland said. He said those rates are “the lowest we’ve ever paid.”
• The board voted to approve its fiscal year 2020 audit report from Dan Austin CPA of Ruidoso so it could be submitted to the state. McCasland said the audit was “clean” and contained no findings.
• McCasland said he likely would recommend certain annuities for district funds after several certificates of deposits expire soon. He said CD rates are earning just 0.001% interest in some instances; annuities are earning as much as 3.05%.