Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Arch Hurley Conservancy District board of directors voted 4-1 last Tuesday to not allocate any more water for the fall growing season and officially set criteria to close its canals from Conchas Lake for the year.
The action sparked grumbling from five farmers who wanted more water to grow hay, winter wheat or other crops.
“Y’all are going to break a bunch of people,” one said.
Before the board’s action, they generally voiced wishes for a small water allocation this fall but to also leave some water in the lake for next spring.
Board member Larry Perkins said he wanted to allocate another 1 inch of water per acre to build farmers’ moisture profiles.
Board President Robert Lopez noted there was “gobs of water that hasn’t been bought.”
“I’d rather leave the water in the lake,” he said.
District manager Franklin McCasland said its canals contained about 5,000 acre-feet of water to purchase and use.
Board member Debra Mitchell moved to not allocate any more water, which was seconded. The motion passed, with Perkins casting the only dissenting vote.
The board initially allocated 2 inches of water in April, then made additional 1-inch allocations each in July and August.
The board also approved criteria when to shut off water for the year. Its canals from Conchas Lake will be closed either on Oct. 31 or when daily orders fell below 30 cubic square feet for three consecutive days.
McCasland said Oct. 31 has been the longstanding date for years to close the canals, or else water would be wasted.
In his manager’s report, McCasland said Conchas Lake’s elevation that morning was 4,172.2 feet, which was 1.2 feet lower than the previous month.
In August, the lake received 13,962 acre-feet of inflow with 3,265 acre-feet of evaporation and other losses. Diversion from the lake to canals totaled 8,112 acre-feet during the month.
McCasland reported recent water orders had increased and would rise more this month as more fall crops were planted.