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How We Built the Rio Grande

What is a River?

1. A natural stream of water of usuallyconsiderable volume; a watercourse.

2. A large natural stream of water emptyinginto a large body of water, as an ocean orlake, and usually fed along its course byconverging tributaries

"No river should ever reach the sea." Joseph Stalin

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150 Million AF

10 X Colorado

Columbia Colorado

15 Million AF 15 xRio Grande

Comparative Flows of Major Western Rivers

1 million AF

Rio Grande

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One of the first indications of water supply problemswas recorded in an official report from Major O.H.Ernst, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to the Chief of Engineers, 1889

At El Paso,... the water ceases to flow and except atdetached pools the bed becomes entirely dry. Thediminution of flow is probably due to evaporationand to the abstraction of portions of it for irrigationpurposes. In my judgment, the stream is not worthyof improvement by the General Government.

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March 15, 2011 Start of the Irrigation Season

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ONE IDEA TO PONDER

The String of Pearls approach toestablishing habitat or green zones piecemealalong the river A constructed Wetland at theSunland Park WWTP

The Rio Bosque is another Pearl in this string

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Building a Constructed Wetland

Non-controversial Total Effluent < 2 MGD

Nobody holds any claims to the water (sort of) Permits for discharge to Rio Grande in place City of Sunland Park already owns the land Bugs, bunnies, birds, and bees will flourish A WWTP can become an attraction site!

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Who Owns the Water?

USBR Delivery obligations under Rio Grande Project Elephant Butte and El Paso County Water Improvement

District No. 1 Irrigation Districts

International Boundary and Water Commission 1906 Treatyobligations to Mexicos farmers in Juarez The El Paso Water Utilities through EPNo.1 Dona Ana County, New Mexico

New Mexico Environmental Department Surface WaterQuality Bureau & Groundwater Quality Bureau Camino Real Regional Utility Authority CRRUA

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Sunland Park Pilot Wetlands

Acreage is available Lining of ponds may not be necessary

Construction techniques and designs canminimize mosquito populations Polishing of effluent through natural

processes nitrates, BOD, coliforms, TSS Generate future research efforts Community Pride

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ZANJA DEL MUERTO or DITCH OF DEATH

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