WSP08819

• File Number: 8583
• Description: Rio Grande Decision Support System
• State: CO
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Water Division: 3
• Date: 3/1/1996
• Author: Dept of the Interior
• Title: 1996 Calendar Year Report to the Rio Grande Compact Commission
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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1996 Report to the Rio Grande Compact Commission

Bureau of Reclamation

Remote Terminal Units continued, and installation and testing of the new 8200 series
Remote Terminal Units for elevation well monitoring was completed. Power outages
caused some minor operational problems throughout the year.

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Flowmeters were purchased and installed at the water delivery structures in the
AlamosaNational Wildlife Refuge.

Abnormally arid conditions required modifications to the water delivery schedule for
the U.S, Fish and Wildlife Service at the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge. Mitigation
water deliveries of 4,500 at were accomplished as requested by the U,S.Fish and
Wildlife Service to optimize the brooding habitat for waterfowl.

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Mitigation water deliveries to the Blanca Wildlife Habitat Area included the annual
water right of 800 af and a Colorado Division of Wildlife transmountain substitution
delivery of 212 af.

In cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey's Pueblo Office, Reclamation is
continuing to review quality control of its observation well network.

Maintenance

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Maintenance activities included work at salvage and elevation well sites; upkeep of
canal structures and pumping plants; new electrical install~tions; aquatic weeds
control; ice removal; herbicide application along canal right-of-way; shelter belt
equipment repair; and repair of vehicles and heavy equipment. Lightning, ice, iron
bacteria, and weeds are continual maintenance problems.

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Work to initiate a triploid grass carp relocation plan is on-going. These. fish tend to
drift downstream over time which creates a situation of insufficient numbers of fish
to control weeds at the north end of the canal and the possibility of inadequate feed
for fish at the south end of the canal. Several grass carp have been examined to
determine the cause of health problems discovered during capture technique exercises.
As a result of these examinations, the consensus is that the fish may be suffering from
malnutrition. Commercial feed is presently being made available for the grass carp.
A Reclamation Technical Service Center Botanist is providing technical assistance to
field division staff.

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Iron bacteria continues to be a problem at many salvage wells. A contractor was hired
to investigate well performance and assess biofouling problems which contribute to

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