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<br />D) {1 ~(';;" ( <br />tJ J"'v,~ .'. <br /> <br />1996 Report to the Rio Grande Compact Commission <br /> <br />Bureau of Reclamation <br /> <br />Closed Basin Division <br /> <br />The Alamosa Field Division of the Albuquerque Area Office operates and maintains a <br />water salvage project constructed in the Closed Basin area of the San Luis Valley, <br />Colorado. The project was formulated asa ground water salvage project to pump <br />water that would otherwise be lost through evapotranspiration, from a shallow, <br />unconfined aquifer, The project consists of a field of 170. wells distributed throughout <br />an area' of approximately 130.,0.0.0. acres, 115 miles of pipeline laterals, 42 miles of <br />conveyance canal, 82 boundary observation well sites, a complex remote control and <br />monitoring system, 96 miles of overhead primary electric lines, 31 miles of <br />underground primary lines, and 42 miles of underground secondary lines - a total of <br />169 miles of electrical distribution system. <br /> <br />Reclamation continues working under the guidance of the Closed Basin Operating <br />Committee, using appropriate operating criteria as the framework for management of <br />Closed Basin operations and water deliveries, <br /> <br />Closed Basin -' Operations and Maintenance <br /> <br />Operations <br /> <br />The project was pumped at high levels consistent with cold weather operations from <br />the first of January throughout most of March. At the March 27 meeting of the <br />Closed Basin Operating Committee, it was recommended that, because. of the <br />projected poor runoff forecast, Colorado would have a minimal obligation for Compact <br />deliveries, and therefore, the Closed Basin Division should salvage only a minimum <br />amount of water, This amount would be adequate to maintain mitigation deliveries, <br />provide aeration for grass carp, protect the conveyance system, and control aquatic <br />weeds in the canal. <br /> <br />On August 2, 1996, in response to a request by the Rio Grande Water Conservation <br />District, the Closed Basin Operating Committee recommended that the Closed Basin <br />Division increase production to maintain 35 cfs at Lobatos gaging station for the <br />purpose of protecting the Rio Grande ecosystem between the conveyance channel <br />outfall and the Colorado State line. <br /> <br />Operations activities included calibration and repairs of the project check structure, <br />turnout, observation and salvage well electronics system; communication and data <br />'transfer via the UHF radio network; water deliveries and maintenance of water levels; <br />and testing of new pressure transducers. Repair and maintenance of the 9000 series <br /> <br />4 <br />