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<br />;"''.:r <br />'. ,-/ <br /> <br />. The plan of' development contemplates that salvaged water would <br />be delivered to the Rio Grande until such time as Colorado achieves a <br />debit-f'ree status under the tenns of' the Rio Grande Compact. At that <br />time, pumping 'of' ground water in the salvage areas could be reduced to <br />the amount required to maintain Colorado in a debit-f'ree statusjor <br />salvaged water could be used, either directly or through exchaDge, to <br />l1litigate water shortages which are chronically experienced in thei San <br />Luis Valley,' or f'or potential new developnent. If' such identifiable <br />uses of' salvaged water in Colorado are undertaken, 'arrangements shoUld <br />be made with identifiable beneficiaries for payment of appropriate por- <br />tions of the cost of water salvage features. Water salvaged within the <br />Closed Basin would be supplemental to water salvaged under the plan of <br />development for the Closed Basin Division, and would be delivered to the <br />Rio Grande through the Main Conveyance Channel of the Closed Basin <br />Division. Water salvaged from areas outside of the Closed Basin would <br />be delivered directly 'to the Rio Grande. <br /> <br />Mosca-Sargent Area <br /> <br />General <br /> <br />This area lies within the Closed Basin about 12 l1liles northeast <br />of Monte Vista, and 14 l1liles northwest of Alamosa. The area is between <br />the cultivated lands in the vicinity of Mosca and Sargent and has a <br />generally high water table, the fluctuations of which are a matter of <br />record. The surface is generally covered with salt grass, greasewood, <br />rabbit brush, and other water-consuming plants of little or no value <br />and is generally level, with little tOPOgraphic relief. The land <br />slopes to the east as does the water table ~ Surface slopes average <br />about 7 feet per mile. The normally high water table is maintained <br />principally by ground water inflqw from the irrigated area on the <br />west. Irrigation l'h..n1'\els crossing the area Probably contribute an <br />additional amount to the maintenance of the ground water, table. Accre- <br />tions from thi s source are believed to be l1linor as the channels are old <br />and well seasoned. With the exception of the Ifooper and Streator Laterals <br />of the San Luis Canal, all cllannels are near the end of their respective <br />systems, and thus have limited' flows during years of low water supply. <br />The 'land in the area had never been extensively or continuously developed, <br />because the lack of adequate drainage caused the area to become rapidly <br />seeped when subjected to irrigation. Figure 2 is a sketch map of the <br />area. <br /> <br />Water Available for Salvage <br /> <br />The nonbenefic1al use of ground. water in the area is reflected <br />in the fluctuation of the ground watar table. The U.. S. Geological <br />Survey, during their 1946-1953 investigations, maintained a network <br />of observation wells in and adjacent to the salvage area. The records <br />of certain se1ecte,d key wells have since been maintained by personnel <br />of the San Luis Valley Project. The records of observation wells in and <br /> <br />7-" r ,,: ~ <br />C.... ~VV <br />