• • The HCD Annual Letter to District water-users is accessible here and will be sent out soon. You will note a few changes for 2008:

     The annual account charge has been increased to $60.00 (from $50.00). The $10.00 increase will help defray legal fees incurred during the San Juan River Basin Water Rights Adjudication hearings. These legal proceedings will become increasingly important in the future in the effort to protect the water-rights of all landowners serviced by the District.

      The District greatly appreciates the cooperation of landowners who keep their gates open on the canal right-of-way during the irrigation season. An acknowledgement and reminder to continue this effort in 2008 has been included.

      A note has been included in the letter regarding beneficial use of water.

  • Water-users are reminded that the water adjudication process will be based on beneficial water-use. Beneficial use will be defined by the area of land that has been obviously irrigated and cropped (as shown through aerial photography) and NOT by the amount of water that has been ordered, but not beneficially used, in an effort to protect water rights (the ‘use it or lose it’ assumption).
  • Jack Reid, who served on the Hammond Board of Directors for 6 years, received a plaque at the March 6, 2008 board meeting recognizing his faithful, voluntary service to the District. The board (and other district personnel) thanks Jack for his service and wishes him well in the future.
  • The San Juan Agricultural Water-Users Association (SJAWUA) has a new website: Check it out at: http://sjagwater.org/

       To access the SJAWUA’s written testimony for the 6/27/07 Senate hearing before the Energy & Natural Resources Committee in Washington, click on:  

       http://sjagwater.org/PDFs/SanJuanAgsWrittenCongressionalTestimonyNoExhibits.pdf

  • The District has hired a new, seasonal ditchrider (David Bonowich) for the 2008 irrigation season. We welcome David as a new employee and hope he finds his job position successful and rewarding.
  Update on Navajo Reservoir Releases: Due to an above average (about 180%) inflow forecast of water into Navajo reservoir this spring, the Bureau of Reclamation increased reservoir release to 4,000 cfs on March 10, 2008. The release rate will likely remain at 4,000 cfs until late May, at which time it will be increased to 5,000 cfs. Preliminary indications are that the flow will remain at 5,000 cfs until mid to late July.

• The Hammond Conservancy District Board of Directors meets the first Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the District office – 790 CR 4990, Bloomfield, NM. All landowners and interested persons are welcome. If you have a specific issue, please call prior to the meeting so you can be added to the agenda.

• San Juan River Basin Water Rights Adjudication Hearings (11^th Judicial Court): http://www.11thjdc.com/modules/tinycontent/?id=180

• Southwest Marketing Network 6th Annual Conference. Santa Fe, NM. (La Fonda Hotel). May 5 – 7, 2008.
• For farm related events outside of the Four Corners area, click on: http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/index.php
  and... http://www.sare.org/events/show_events.asp
• See also the Water Information Program web page: http://www.waterinfo.org/index.htm for more events and interesting press releases related to San Juan and Colorado River issues.
• New Mexico State University’s Agricultural Science Center at Farmington has scheduled its biennial open house and field tours for July 11, 2008. The public, particularly those interested in agricultural crop production and gardening, will find the field day enjoyable and informative. More detailed information, including a schedule, etc. will be posted on this website as preparations are finalized

• For local current Bloomfield weather and forecast see: Bloomfield, New Mexico (87413) Conditions & Forecast : Weather Underground.
  
• For a 2007 precipitation summary at the site referred to above click here: 2007 Precipitation (PDF)

• To see how much rain has fallen at a site near West Hammond Road (CR 5500) southwest of Bloomfield go to: CoCoRaHS - Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network. Then click on ‘View Data’ at top of page. To view overnight rainfall from several cities within New Mexico, click on ‘Daily Precipitation Reports’. There are presently 4 sites in San Juan County that regularly measure and record rainfall. You’ll have to go to Page 2 to see these sites. The one located on the HCD is labeled ‘NM-SJ-3’. To view only data from this site, click on ‘Station Precipitation Summary Report’ and then enter ‘NM-SJ-3’ in the first open box at top of page and click on ‘Get Summary’. You can enter any range of dates in the boxes at top of the page.