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Section 6 <br />Site-Specific Opportunities and Limitations <br />Southwest (Dolores, San Juan, San Miguel River Sasins) <br />The Southwest Basin is conlposed of separate and distinct river basins. The rivers in <br />the basul are primarily governed by the Colorado River Conlpact. Water <br />conservation options are possible witllout significant concerns regarding the <br />Colorado River Conlpact; however, the La Plata River flows are iinpacted by <br />conlpact delivery obligations to New Mexico. There are delivery obligations on the <br />La Plata at the Hesperus gage that are tied to upstreanl flows. Conservation <br />ineasures can reduce return flows and impact t11e Compact deliveries. In this basin, <br />there are concerns about impacts of water conservation measures on groundwater <br />levels and donlestic wells. <br />High Plains (South Platte, Arkansas, and Republican) <br />^ Pumping of groundwater in fl1e High Plains is currently at a rate that substantially <br />exceeds recharge. There are increasulg energy costs to pum~ this water as water <br />levels drop and punlping head increases. Any measures to reduce the anlowlt <br />needed for irrigation will reduce energy costs and extend the life of the aquifer. <br />The State of Colorado sllould consider conducting an in depth basin by basul analysis <br />of the opportunities for agricultural water conservation nleasures ulcorporatulg the <br />potential benefits and linlitations as outlined u1 this report. <br />DRAFT 6-4 <br />