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The Rio Grande main stem rises in the San Juan Mountains in the vicinity of Creede, <br />Colorado and flows easterly where it is j oined by the South Fork of the Rio Grande at <br />South Fork, Colorado. The main stem continues southeast to the San Luis Valley floor <br />until it reaches Alamosa, where it turns south and flows to the state line. Major <br />tributaries to the Rio Grande include the Conejos River, Saguache Creek, Alamosa <br />Creek, and La Jara Creek. Most stream flow originates from snowmelt in the <br />surrounding mountains. Average annual precipitation in the valley ranges from 7 inches <br />in Alamosa to 45 inches at Wolf Creek Pass. <br />The complex subsurface geology of the valley is generally comprised of a shallow <br />unconfined aquifer and a deeper confined aquifer. The aquifer system is in hydrologic <br />connection with the surface water system in many areas throughout the valley. <br />2.2 Supporting Subtasks <br />The Consumptive Uses (CU) and Losses Summary for a basin requires both an historic <br />crop consumptive use analysis and anon-agricultural use analysis. The following <br />subtasks were performed under the Consumptive Use and Water Budget Component to <br />determine monthly crop and other (non-agricultural) consumptive uses in the Rio Grande <br />Basin for the period 1991 through 1995: <br />Historic Crop Consumptive Uses and Losses. The estimation of historic consumptive <br />uses and losses in the Rio Grande Basin is described in the Historic Crop <br />Consumptive Use Analysis Report. <br />Other (non-agricultural) Consumptive Uses and Losses. The estimation of other <br />consumptive uses and losses in the Rio Grande Basin is described in the Rio Grande <br />Consumptive Uses and Losses Summary -Other (non-agricultural) Uses Procedures <br />Memorandum (Appendix A of this report). <br />RGDSScusumm.doc 5 of 11 November, 2000 <br />