WSP11615

• File Number: 8510.100.40
• Description: Rio Grande Compact Commission
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Water Division: 3
• Date: 3/1/1981
• Title: Water and Power Resources Service - Southwest Region - to Rio Grande Compact Commission - March 1981
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

o
GO
on
~
Q
Cr'.'j

. .

be eompleted this summer. It is antieipated that the Serviee will then prepare

speeifieation designs and cost estimates for the alternative plan selected by

BIA and the Pueblo Council.

SAN JUAN-CHAMA PROJECT

San Juan Pueblo Irrigation Development--Work eontinued on a somewhat limited

basis during this reporting period on feasibility investigations for an

all-Indian irrigation development on the San Juan Pueblo in lieu of the original

Llano Unit proposal. The period for the eompleting the work, being accomplished

under a memorandum of understanding between the Service and BIA, has been

extended to June 30, 1981. The BIA is funding the study.

Exploratory drilling and test pumping of two wells in the Rio Grande alluvium

were eompleted in late spring of 1980 to determine whether a suitable water

supply exiats for the pumping plan outlined in the Service's November 1978

Status Report on potential development. Results of the test pumping and asso-

eiated engineering assessments indieated that saturated thiekness of the water-

bearing alluvium is mueh less than originally antieipated (only about 30 feet),

and that produetion of sufficient Quantities of water for the proposed irriga-

tion development would be extremely eostly. Consequently, preliminary engi-

neering analyses have been eompleted for an alternative plan whieh involves

diversion of water from the Rio Chama into a settling pond from whieh it would

be pumped to that projeet area.

Also during this reporting period, earlier analyses of antieipated cropping

patterns, farm budgets, and agrieultural economic evaluations have been reexa-

mined and revised to reflect further considerations and impacts of reeently