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<br />-20- <br /> <br />depth of 8 feet below the ground surface. This is the <br /> <br />equivalent of approximately 76,000 acre-feet of water, or <br />some 10,500 acre-feet less than was estimated by the Bureau <br /> <br />of Reclamation. <br /> <br />The U. S. Geological Survey presently has a full-time <br /> <br />staff of ground and surface water specialists that is con- <br /> <br />ducting a comprehensive inventory of the water resources of <br /> <br />the San Luis Valley. When the inventory is completed it <br /> <br />is hoped that the theoretical average annual salvage from <br /> <br />the Closed Basin area can be more closely evaluated. <br /> <br />In addition to the long time renewable yield resulting <br /> <br />from decrease in the evapotranspiration opportunity there <br /> <br />is the "one shot" yield resulting from the initial dewater- <br /> <br />ing of the soil profile. This dewatering would probably <br />occur over a period of two to three years and could result <br /> <br />in as much as 80,000 acre-feet of water, based on an assumed <br /> <br />specific yield of 20%. This would represent a substantial <br /> <br />contribution to Colorado's Compact debit. No allowance <br /> <br />was made in the U.S.B.R. report for this water. <br /> <br />QUALITY OF WATER <br /> <br />Although some of the surface and ground water in the <br /> <br />lower portion of the Valley is now too saline to be accept- <br /> <br />able to the Lower Basin states under terms of the Compact, <br /> <br />this condition is not expected to persist. Limited testing <br /> <br />by the U.S.B.R. revealed that the water is relatively low <br />in total dissolved solids and the percent sodium generally <br /> <br />(' " , 4 l/l <br />- J U 0 u ~j <br />