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i ! , '; co ! ~n ,,~>..j > .-1 I ':-) ,-.:> 4 tolerable in that diversions during years of high river flow have recharged the aquifer to enable the farmers to "get by" during years of low river flow. In effect the aquifer haa been used as an underground reservoir. However, as with any reservoir, if no storage is permitted, there comes a point at which nothing more can be withdrawn. It is this overall effect which appears to be the most disastrous and which defini tely concernS the water users. Hopefully the analog model of the ground water conditions in the San Luis Valley, presently being developed by the U. S. Geological Survey, will be helpful in determining more accurately the actual interrelationships which exist. It is reported that land values in some parts of the San Luis Valley have dropped $50.00 per acre during 1968. It is also reported that some lending agencies are more reluctant to loun money for opera ting capital to farmers in these areas as a result, of the wa ter si tua tion. If there is to be any relief from the ,d tuation, it must of necessi ty c~me quickly to be of benefit to those property owners presently in the San Luis Valley. RECONMENDED SOLUTIONS TO TIlE PROBLEM The Rio Grande Water Conservation District has been formed to deal with this and other related water resource management problems in the San Luis Valley. At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District held July 8, 1968, it was decided that each board member would be requested to enumerate possible projects in his area to be studied and possibly undertaken to facilitate compliance with the Rio Grande Compact with- out the concurrent adverse effect on decreed appropriations. The following tabulation of reconnnendations made by the board members is not intended to be final nor exhaustive but rather indicative of possibilities and are listed in an approximate order of priority on the basis of present knowledge and thinking. 1. Cleaning of existing Norton Drain and extension thereof to present terminus of Bountiful )"aste Ditch at the Sanford Canal (Plate 1). 2. Channelization of three to four miles of the San Antonio River (Plate 1). 3. Channelization of approximately 15 to 20 miles of the Rio Grande from Alamosa southward beyond its confluence with the Conejos River (Plate 1). 4. nock Creek channelization and drainage (Plate 2). 5. Cloaed Basin Drain (Plate 2). (The following suggested projects are not listed in order of priority inas- much as it is felt that each would require more study to approxima te its feasib- ility, importance and benefit.) a. Additional transmountain diversions.