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<br />'it~,)~. <br /> <br />The construction of a drainage channel along the toe of the <br />escarpment appears to be advisable in order to lower the water table in <br />the 1mmediate area. Such a channel. in addition to affording, salvage <br />of water. would also serve to conduct water from the contemplated artesian <br />wells to the Rio Grande. The chamlel should have a structural depth of <br />10 feet. which would provide for a flowing prism with a depth of 2 feet. <br />The 8-foot drawdown thus provided would achieve lowering of the water <br />table on the flood plain side of the chamlel for an est1ma.ted distance <br />of 500 feet. Thus. the contemplated channel would drain about 425 acres. <br />Est1ma.tes of water salvage by lowering the water table in similar areas <br />in the San Luis Valley reveal that about 1 acre-foot of water per acre <br />would be salvaged annt1al.J..y. On this basis the total amount of water <br />salvaged would be 425 acre-feet annually. <br /> <br />Artesian wells about 2.500 feet deep. spaced at quarter-m11e <br />intervals along the channel. would yield an est1ma.ted 450 gallons per <br />minute each. based on yields of other wells in this general area. <br /> <br />Drilling the first well should confirm the need for the drainage <br />channel. If none is needed. flows of wells wUl be conducted through <br />suitable laterals in such a manner that the 'water developed will reach the <br />Rio Grande with minimRl losses. <br /> <br />In either event. est1ma.ted construction costs are not expected <br />to differ appreciably from those presented herein. <br /> <br />The total amount of water salV&geable will vary from 2O.q.q.O <br />acre-feet to 20.865 acre-teet per year. The lower . tigunihas been used <br />in evaluating this proposal. <br /> <br />QUality of Salvaged Water <br /> <br />There are no tributaries to the Rio Grande in the salvage area <br />ner do any drains originate or cross the area, OccasionaJ.ly some drain- <br />age flows or irrigation wastes enter the area from irrigated lands to the <br />north. Such flows are generally low in volume with praetically no peaks <br />and are generally diSSipated 'by evapotranspiration and seepage to the <br />ground water table. <br /> <br />No qUality determinations of ground. artesian. or surface waters <br />in this area have been ~de. Most of the salvage water in this area will <br />:tie from artesian wells and is expected to contain total dissolved solids <br />of less than 500 parts per million. The sodium ion concentration is <br />expected to be less than 50 percent. <br /> <br />Plan for Water SalV&ge <br /> <br />Facilities required to achieve the salvage potential of the area <br />are: a channel along the toe of the escarpment to provide drainage of the <br />shallow ground water. As mentioned preViously. the need for the drainage <br />MR.mlel will be established early in the feasibility investig4'trons..., J <br />' -...'.... . '" <br /> <br />26 <br />