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<br />r~ <br /> <br />. . <br /> <br />,~ <br /> <br />"--' <br /> <br />subscription basis. As actually practiced this current dry year <br /> <br />l!J <br />N <br /> <br />{~.) <br /> <br />on a pilot program basis, individual ditch companies accrued <br />accounts of storage water in Platoro based on their voluntary <br />reduction of diversions on their direct flow rights. The initial <br /> <br />c) <br /> <br />results are quite encouraging; thirteen different ditches <br /> <br />participated to a total of 4000 acre-feet of water that will be <br />vitally important later this summer. <br /> <br />To offset the effect ofunpredictedly severe hydrology, the <br />obligations of the Mexican Treaty and the tight bind of the compact <br /> <br />delivery schedule, Congress authorized, and the Bureau of <br /> <br />Reclamation is constructing, the Closed Basin Unit of the San Luis <br /> <br />Valley Project. This project will pump shallow groundwater to the <br /> <br />Rio Grande, salvaging natural evaporative losses and greatly <br /> <br />helping both the Rio Grande and the Conejos to meet their compact <br />obligations, as well as enhance wildlife habitat. Approximately <br />40% of the Closed Basin Project benefits have been .allocated to <br /> <br />Conejos, and this will permit additional storage of water in <br /> <br />Platoro, further extending the usable water supply. <br /> <br />SUPPORT FROM COLORADO STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES <br /> <br />The transfer and implementation of Platoro Reservoir is widely <br /> <br />supported in Colorado. It is seen as a key economic development <br /> <br />issue in one of the poorest rural counties in the state and, for <br /> <br />that matter, the country. <br /> <br />The state legislature overwhelmingly <br /> <br />9 <br />