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<br /> <br />THE SAN LUIS VALLEY PROJECT - CLOSED BASIN DIVISION <br /> <br />FACTS AND CONCEPTS ABOUT THE PROJECT <br /> <br />U. S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION' <br /> <br />I . BACKGROU~ <br /> <br />In many areas of the West, t~e start of a modern agricultural economy was the <br />direct "result of Federal Government involvement. Agencies like the Bureau of <br />Reclamation (Bureau) built dams, reservoirs, and canal systems and formed a <br />partnership with' the private sector to, promote the national goals of settling <br />and developing the arid west (see section V:E). In the San Luis Valley of <br />Colorado, however, development was accomplished by individuals and private <br />companies acting almost completely without Federal assistance. <br /> <br />At the present point in time, the San Luis Valley faces a complex and difficult <br />situation. This situation has been described by Colorado State University <br />economists in the following way: <br /> <br />The San Luis Valley stands, at <br />Because of the existing water <br />the superimposed legal system <br />has arisen among the people. <br />life. <br /> <br />the crossroads of its economic future. <br />distribution system in the Valley and <br />and legal constraints, a deep insecurity <br />Suspicion and economic fear are facts of <br /> <br />presently, the Valley is a patchwork of local, conservancy districts, <br />ditch companies, drainage districts, water users associations, etc., <br />all interested in protecting their own areas of concern at the expense <br />of any other person or group which might be deemed a threat to their <br />interest. The specific conflicting groups primarily break down into <br />the Conejos River surface' users vs. the Rio Grande River surfaee <br />users, the Conejo River surface users vs. the ground water users in <br />the Conejos Basin, surface users vs. ground water users, the "closed <br />basin" vs. the rest of the Valley, municipalities vs. Valley water <br />users, the (Closed Basin project) 'vs. Subirrigators, Colorado vs. <br />New Mexico, Texas and the Republic of Mexico, etc. <br /> <br />With the (Bureau of Reclamation Closed Basin Project) beginning, it is <br />possible that there is enough water present in the Valley to fulfill <br />existing water requirements and interstate commitments, without <br />substantially harming ,the existing pattern of water use in the Valley. <br />But to approach this objective, a spirit of cooperation and trust must <br />be developed . . . ." (quoted from "San Luis Valley Water Problems; <br />A Legal Perspective," by C. E. Radosevich and R. W. Rutz, Colorado <br />State University available as a National Technical Information <br />Service Reprint (Report No. PB 295918) U.S. Department of Commerce/ <br />Springfield, VA 22161). <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />(',,:i" ,n8' <) <br />'^" \) 1../ { j..". <br />