News Release Archive

Vaughan Pipeline Receives Reclamation Conservation Award

Media Contact: Mary Perea Carlson, (505) 462-3576, mperea@uc.usbr.gov

For Release: July 16, 2008

The Bureau of Reclamation today announced the selection of the Vaughan Conservation Pipeline Project on the Pecos River as the recipient of the Commissioner's Cooperative Conservation Award.

The award to the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (ISC), the Richard Vaughan Family of Fort Sumner and the Pecos River staff of the Bureau of Reclamation's Albuquerque Area Office recognizes cooperation to conserve endangered species while protecting the water supply.

The ISC constructed the pipeline from the Vaughan family well field to the Pecos River two miles away. Beginning this year, groundwater leased by Reclamation from ISC will be pumped to the river. It will supplement flows for the threatened Pecos bluntnose shiner and help to protect the water supply for water users of the Carlsbad Project.

The award also recognizes cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad Irrigation District, Fort Sumner Irrigation District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Environment Department, New Mexico Office of the State Engineer and New Mexico Legislature on the project.

Reclamation Commissioner Robert W. Johnson issued the award "in recognition of the outstanding cooperation and efforts to conserve endangered species while protecting project resources in support of the Bureau of Reclamation and the Department of the Interior's missions."

The Vaughan pipeline was Reclamation's first partnership project with the state undertaken as part of New Mexico's strategic water initiative. The Vaughan family sold the water rights to ISC for the project.

"We are pleased to be a part of a project of this magnitude and honored to receive the national recognition from Commissioner Johnson," said Reclamation's Albuquerque Area Office Manager John Poland. "The forward thinking of the Vaughan family and the strong partnership with the Interstate Stream Commission were the driving forces behind this project."

In July 2006, Reclamation issued a Record of Decision for the Carlsbad Project Water Operations and Water Supply Conservation Final Environmental Impact Statement. It mandated changes in water operations within the Pecos River to conserve the Pecos bluntnose shiner and the Carlsbad Project water supply. The US Fish and Wildlife Service issued a Biological Opinion which included a provision to keep the river continuous. This project helps Reclamation continue to comply with those requirements.

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