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Last modified
1/26/2010 2:58:41 PM
Creation date
10/12/2006 4:18:14 AM
Metadata
Fields
Template:
Water Supply Protection
File Number
8543.600
Description
San Luis Valley Project
State
CO
Basin
Rio Grande
Date
8/1/1984
Author
USDOI/BOR
Title
San Luis Valley Project - Colorado - Closed Basin Division - Facts and Concepts
Water Supply Pro - Doc Type
Publication
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<br />3600 <br /> <br />9 <br /> <br />With the State of Colorado, the Bureau plans to develop Head and San Lui. <br />Lakes into a recreation and wildlife area. Before San LIlis Lake silted up <br />and became foul smelling and brackish in the late 1950's, it was a very <br />popular recreation area. The> plans call for the delivery of enough water <br />to stablize a higher \later level in the lakes. Water will be periodically <br />pumped through the system so that the lakes will not stagnate. <br /> <br />There are other Project benefits which are not formally identified a8 pur- <br />poses justifying the Project. These "spin offll benefits are mostly related <br />to requirements of Federal la\~s. Extensive studies of the Closed Basin's <br />ecology, archeology, and history have been done (see section Ill). These <br />studies are required to identify possihle Project effects to these resources <br />and to develop mitigation plans. The results of these studies are <br />available to the puhlic. Scientists and interested local residents cnn llse <br />tllis inforlnation to learll al)out these unique and interesting aspects of the <br />San Lui. Val\ev. <br /> <br />Perhaps the moc;t important of the "spin off" benefits are the C?nr,ineering, <br />water table, and geological stlJdies which are required for the Pr0ject to <br />be designed properly. The results of tbese studies (section Ill) are also <br />available to the public. Radosevich and Rutz' report, which was cited at <br />the beginning of the section, concludes with so~e advice. The Valley's <br />economic/water interest groups are counciled to negotiate with each other <br />rather than hale each other before courts of law. The purpose of such <br />negotiation would be to develop a Valley-wide system of water allocation <br />which would be both fair and clearly understood. No restraint on indivi- <br />dual constitutional rights to seek redress in the courts is intended. The <br />point is, quite simply, that the Valley's present course of defining a <br />system of water rights pi~cemeal, indivi~ual court case by court ease, will <br />have negativ~ results. Defining the relationsllip of Valley water rights to <br />each other in the courts will result in a hur,e body of individual rulings <br />and decrees. Some rulinr,s will probably be contradictory. Regardless of <br />the outcone, legal fees \-1i11 be enormous. <br /> <br />It will not be easy to negotiate a fair and legally bindinr, system outside <br />of the courts. The work should be done by people whose vital economic <br />interests are directly involved. The information the Bureau has collected <br />should help. ~o one can he expected to make a deci5ion which may directly <br />affect his livelihood without some solid facts about what the results of <br />that decision wi 11 be. Information has been collected by the Project on <br />how water tables are related, what happens with different kinds of water- <br />pumping operations, and on how those things affect .vegetation. These data <br />should help individuals make informed decisions. <br /> <br />In the long run, the information provided by the Project may be a greater <br />benefit than the water it is beinr, built to salvage. The completed <br />Project can be logically viewed as a closely watched gage on the terminal <br />end of the whole northern Valley's ground \.Jater system. l.ike a measuring <br />instrument, the Project will not directly affect the rest of the system. <br />The Project's network of observation wells will show whether or not the <br />northern Valley's water supplies are being used to the full potential <br />allowed by nature. The Bureau should not and cannot take any direct action <br />with that information. The Bureau will make that information available to <br />local groups. They can use it and \lOrk together to plan a fair and secure <br />long-term flJture for the San Luis Valley. <br />
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