Why doesn’t Ute Lake in New Mexico release water to Texas?
The States of New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma are all parties to the Canadian River Compact created by agreement of the three states and the federal government in 1950. The Compact is administered by representatives appointed by the Governors of each state and a chairperson appointed by the President. It has authority over each state pertaining to issues related to the Canadian River. According to the Compact, New Mexico can hold 200,000 acre-feet in Ute Lake before it would have to release water to Texas. Currently, that level is about 3 feet below their spillway. Any water stored above that level must be released to the Canadian River and will eventually make its way to Lake Meredith. Any amount below that or any water in Conchas Lake is not required to be released. Texas also can only hold 500,000 acre-feet in Lake Meredith before we would have to release water for Oklahoma. The 500,000 acre-feet level in Lake Meredith would represent a depth of around 102 feet.
