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Project Purpose <br />The primary purpose of the Closed Basin Division is to deliver water to the Rio Grande to assist <br />the State of Colorado in meetings its commitments for water deliveries to the States of New <br />Mexico and Texas under the Rio Grande Compact of 1939, and to assist the United States in <br />meeting its commitments to Mexico under the Rio Grande Convention of 1906. The Project also <br />provides water to the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge and the Blanca Wildlife Habitat Area, <br />and to stabilize water levels in San Luis Lake. <br />Facilities <br />The Project consists of 170 shallow salvage wells ranging in depth from 66 to 126 feet, with an <br />average depth of 98 feet. The wells are currently pumped at rates ranging from 50 to 760 gpm. A <br />network of 132 observation wells has also been installed to provide information on water levels <br />and pressures in both the unconfined and confined aquifers. The data collected from observation <br />wells are used to operate the Project within limits prescribed by the authorizing legislation. <br />Groundwater is pumped into a conveyance system consisting of 115 miles oflow-pressure or <br />gravity-flow pipeline laterals. These laterals transport water from the salvage wells to the main <br />conveyance channel. <br />The main conveyance channel collects salvaged groundwater from the pipeline laterals and <br />delivers it to the Rio Grande. Prior to reaching the Rio Grande, water may be delivered into or <br />pumped out of San Luis Lake in order to maintain desired Lake levels. <br />The conveyance channel is approximately 42 miles in length with a design capacity increasing <br />from 45 cfs to 160 cfs. The channel is lined with a PVC lining to reduce seepage losses. The <br />lining is covered with pit run, sand and gravel material to protect it and reduce erosion. There <br />are several check structures along the channel and four constant head orifice (CHO) turnouts <br />where water can be delivered. There is a flow measurement station on the channel where it <br />crosses U.S. Highway 160, approximately 5 miles above where it empties into the Rio Grande. <br />Facilities of the Project include a sophisticated Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition <br />(SCADA) system. The system consists of a master station located in the Project office, remote <br />terminal units (RTUs) at each salvage and observation well site and other control points in the <br />water conveyance system, and a UHF communications link between the master station and RTUs. <br />The control system is operated 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is equipped with alarms <br />systems that notify appropriate project staff in the event of problems. <br />Operations <br />The Closed Basin Division is operated and maintained by Bureau of Reclamation personnel. A <br />contract with the Rio Grande Water Conservation District (RGWCD) provides for civil <br />maintenance on Project facilities. The Project's operations are monitored by a committee <br />comprised of representatives of the Secretary of the Interior, Colorado Water Conservation <br />Board, and RGWCD. This committee ensures that the Project is operated according to <br />authorizing legislation. <br />Day-today operations of the Project are largely automated through the SCADA system. The <br />Project office staffs approximately 23 employees whose responsibilities include information <br />C:Acdss\CBP.doc Closed Basin Division Interview June 23, 1999 -Page 2 of 5 <br />