WSP11236

• File Number: 8503.400.B
• Description: Costilla Creek/Rio Grande Basin
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Water Division: 3
• Date: 12/17/1974
• Title: Preliminary Engineering report for the Replacement of the Costilla Creek Diversion Structure
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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portation of fine grain material throughout the irrigation season.

II HISTORICAL SUMMARY

Irrigation works were first constructed on Costilla Creek in

1853-1854 by the early Spanish settlers. The ditches served small

tracts of land which supported the subsistence level economy of the

fami 1 i es who were then settl i ng on the Sangre de Cri sto grant.

In 1870 land promotion was started, which, sporadically has

continued into fairly recent times by several companies organized

for that purpose. The continuing problem of the area was one of a

generally inadequate supply of water. Water rights were sold or

exchanged in an unsatisfactory manner which resulted in hostility

between individuals, groups and interstate squabbles.

The Costilla Creek compact was ratified by Colorado and New

Mexico in 1945 and approved by Congress in 1946. Its purpose was

to arrive at an equitable distribution of the Costilla Creek water

between water users of Colorado and New Mexico. An amended compact
was signed in 1963 which was intended to further reduce problems of

administration and provide desired changes to the original compact.

The diversion structure, which is the focal point of this

study, makes possible the delivery of the waters of Costilla Creek