Without a municipal water system —nor adequate funds to purchase water rights to supply one— how will Corraleños ensure they and future generations will have water for domestic and agricultural use?

The outlook for Corrales’ water future will be presented to the Village Council July 17 by an appointed Corrales Water Advisory Committee. Recommendations may also serve as an update to the community’s 40-year water plan submitted as a component to the State Water Plan almost a decade ago.

No details on the committee’s recommendations were available at press time.

In 2004, Village officials “accepted” the earlier 40-year water plan which, among many other provisions, called for an “aggressive program” to remove elm and Russian olive trees from Corrales, while exempting “large, specimen trees.”

It also stated that “xeriscaping is encouraged, but is not mandatory,”  for existing residences east of Loma Larga, and that “xeriscaping is recommended for all municipal and commercial locations,” although “existing large specimen trees and mature plantings may remain in all areas.”

(See Corrales Comment Vol.XXIII, No.21 December 18, 2004 “40-Year Water Plan Could Change Corrales’ Scenic, ‘Oasis’ Look”)

At their October 26, 2004 meeting, Village Council members formally accepted the plan produced by the appointed Corrales Water Advisory Commission over the previous two and a half years. The immediate effect of that acceptance was that the plan was submitted to the State Engineer’s Office as an outline for how Corrales intended to proceed in balancing its water needs with available supply.

No provisions in the Village’s 40 Year Water Plan were immediately turned into law, and there was no timetable for when property owners would have to eradicate all elms, Russian olives and salt cedars (exempting mature specimens).

And since then, Corrales has not hired even one “tree policeman.”

The 2004 40-Year Water Plan had a set of 15 recommendations, several of them controversial. The Corrales water plan recommended laws and voluntary programs to encourage water conservation by homeowners. It wanted Village officials to consider water availability before committing to new public facilities and before approving private developments.

Among those were removal of elm and Russian olive trees throughout the village, encouraging xeriscaping in the business district, encouraging installation of water meters on domestic and irrigation wells and not encouraging grey water re-use and rain harvesting.

Seven pages of recommendations  contained the following:

• “Ordinances to Insure Adequate Water Availability. Planning and Zoning should confirm that all new commercial, municipal and residential construction has adequate water permits and/or rights. This would include requiring well permits from the Village for all new or replacement wells.

“A two-tiered structure of permit fees would be to permit replacement wells at a relative small fee, new wells at a standard fee, and fee waiver for replacement wells where residents are 65 years or older. Adding septic permit fees should also be investigated by Planning and Zoning.

• “Xeriscaping and Green Zone. Xeriscaping should be practiced throughout Corrales consistent with horticultural legacy, history and topography of the various areas in Corrales.

“West of Loma Larga, in keeping with the Village Comprehensive Plan and topography, xeriscaping should be mandatory for all new construction and strongly encouraged for existing residences.

“East of Loma Larga, in keeping with the Comprehensive Plan and historical precedent, xeriscaping is encouraged but is not mandatory.

“Municipal and commercial locations… existing large specimen trees and mature plantings may remain in all areas.…

“Water usage based on location will be controversial. Further, continued water use for the ‘green zone’ east of Loma Larga will not significantly affect consumption due to aquifer recharge.”

A recommendation against rain water harvesting and re-use of domestic grey water which appeared in the draft plan was deleted from the final. It read: “Rain water harvesting, grey water reuse and low-flow appliances should not be encouraged in Corrales. The Village water system is currently almost entirely based on individual wells and septic systems. None of the above actions would result in meaningful reductions in water consumption.”

• “Bosque Restoration. Develop an aggressive program to reduce evapotranspiration water losses from the bosque by removing non-native phreatophytes (especially salt cedar, Russian olives and Chinese elms).

• “Village Wide Removal of Phreatophytes. Develop an aggressive program to reduce evapotranspiration water losses throughout the village by removing non-native phreatophytes (especially salt cedar, Chinese elms and Russian olives).

“Large specimen trees may be exempted. Prohibit planting of these plants by residents and advise area nurseries and other outlets.

• “Village Wide Water Quality Testing Program. Implement a village-wide water quality testing program. Each year, sample a percentage of the wells geographically distributed throughout the village. Measuring static well levels at the same time should be considered. Data will be incorporated in a data base that will provide the Village with current data and trends on our water status.

•  “Village Well Metering. Implement a voluntary well and ditch water metering program for each residence. This will help the Village determine what actual water usage is. If implemented, this will help evaluate the effectiveness of planned conservation programs. Without measurements, water conservation progress and effectiveness will be difficult to assess.

“Actual water use is also a defensible position against reduction of permits and certainty of rights. A program that includes Village education will be required. this program should be voluntary and made mandatory if State mandated or as part of a severe drought plan.

“Installing well metering could cost $500 or more per residence. This cost, if borne by the resident, will not be well-received. Further, the metering could be viewed as a first step that could lead to usage restrictions and even water usage [reduction]. However, any resident who believes they may have ground water rights should have a well meter in order to properly establish those rights with the State Engineer.

• “Irrigation of Residential and Commercial Property. Implement a program that maximizes watering effectiveness while minimizing water consumption. Restrictions on time of day that spray watering is permitted should be implemented.

“Drip/spray watering education should be developed that emphasizes maximum water conservation through optimal duration and timing of watering, use of drip where ever possible,  selection of large-drop, lower pressure spray whenever possible, careful design and monitoring of system to ensure only intended areas are watered.

“Minimizing the use of water for irrigation is complex task that may not be well understood by village residents…”

This recommendation has the following “Action Required” advice: “Enact ordinances restricting time of day for spray watering. Require a permit for new underground irrigation systems.”

• “Irrigation Efficiency for Cultivated Fields. Implement a program that maximizes irrigation effectiveness while minimizing water  consumption. Incentives and/or education for laser leveled fields irrigated by flooding should be considered.                                                                                                                                 

• “Improve Well Drilling Regulations. Establish well drilling requirements that minimize water contamination from ground water. This includes proper capping and casing sealing. This could be implemented through a Corrales Well Permit process.  Well drilling requirements in New Mexico do not minimize exposure to ground water contamination.… While we believe that village wells are not contaminated, there is a significant contamination exposure. Implementing this program will increase the cost of new or re-drilled wells.                                

• “Adult Education Outreach Programs. Establish adult education outreach programs that include topics not otherwise specified above.…

• “Student and Child Outreach and Education Programs. Establish children and school education outreach programs that include topics not otherwise specified above. Topics would include how the river affects the water in our homes, the inter-relationship of water and farming, the river, and wells.

• “Legislative Impact. Establish a response system to the citizens on legislative issues or rule making that affects the Village or residents. Currently there is no timely way to determine what changes may affect all citizens in Corrales in relationship to water.…

• “Well Level Measuring. Implement a voluntary program to regularly measure static well levels in selected areas in the village. The number of wells required, their depths and their locations would have to be determined based on a review of the village’s aquifers. 

“These measurements may be required as often as weekly. The information would be stored in a data base that will provide the Village the status and the trends of our aquifer levels.… A program administrator will be required to co-ordinate the program.

• “Maintain Open Space and Preserve Farmland. Implement programs to maintain open space and farmlands in Corrales. By maintaining open space and farmlands,fewer wells and septic systems are required. slow percolation into the aquifer from this land also improves water quality.

• “Establish Active Water Management for Recreation Center. Install and maintain a system that monitors rainfall and/or sensors that override automatic watering systems (well-supplied). 

The executive summary of the draft plan notes that “The Village of Corrales, at the end of 2003, did not have sufficient water rights to supply the demands of the municipal government or the potential needs of a water system. No justification for a water system has been supported, although triggering events are referenced in this document. The Village is currently working on obtaining priority (1907) water rights to satisfy current and short-term water needs.

“The potential for a Village water system was evaluated. At the time of the creation of this plan, one is not deemed necessary, but provisions to continuously monitor water quality are in section … of the plan.

“The Village is also evaluating the need for a sewage treatment system that is being evaluated separately.…”

The plan stated six goals:

• ensure water rights and availability to preserve the local agricultural traditions and a balanced supply for other domestic uses;

• restore the bosque to enhance water conservation, and reduce the threat of wildfire;

• retain land use patterns that support and ensure a rural and agricultural lifestyle and economy in accordance with the Comprehensive Master Plan for the Village;

• promote education for residents regarding the connection between land use, water and environmental health, and ways to conserve water. These concepts should be put in place as a balanced approach between incentive- based, regulatory and educational curriculum, both in area schools as well as public outreach programs;

• provide for monitoring the implementation of the water plan; and

• promote the conservation of water.”