Los Alamos County Long Range Water Plan

Project Description: The Incorporated County of Los Alamos (“County”) requires the services of a consultant to complete a Long-Range Water Supply Plan (“Plan”) that meets the requirements established by the Rules and Regulations of the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer (NMOSE). The Plan will provide projections for water demand to supply all Los Alamos County retail customers and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) for the next 40 years.
Los Alamos County administers the joint water rights owned by the County and LANL through a water right lease. The county owns 3,878.91-acre feet of groundwater rights and 1,200-acre feet of undeveloped water rights from the San Juan - Chama Project. LANL owns 1,662.39-acre feet of groundwater rights.
The Consultant shall prepare and implement a strategy to solicit the input of the general public, government agencies, and any other stakeholders, including conducting public meetings for public input and to present the Plan to the public and the Los Alamos County Utilities Board and County Council. Los Alamos County has requested from LANL its Long-Range Water Supply needs. This will be provided to the selected consultant. The plan must adhere to requirements established by the Rules and Regulations of the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer (NMOSE) to secure and preserve unused water rights.
In 2012, Los Alamos County performed an engineering study to look at utilizing its 1,200 AFY of San Juan Chama Water. The consultant will revise cost estimates to develop a new well at Overlook Park. In addition, the consultant shall coordinate with the State Engineer's Office to confirm the technical and permitting requirements to develop the San Juan-Chama water through a new drinking water well per the 2012 Engineering Study.