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Introduction <br />effort to satisfy the compact delivery obligations. This arrangement has been administered <br />successfully since 1985. <br />The Rio Grande Compact continues to be viewed as the overriding commitment on the river. By <br />comparing estimated compact delivery obligations with streamflow forecasts, water administrators <br />derive an estimate of the flows that must be passed on for benefit of the compact. The remaining <br />flows are available for distribution under the priority system to San Luis Valley water users. As the <br />irrigation season progresses, estimated flows become known flows, and the compact obligations are <br />re-evaluated. The division engineer compares the re-evaluated compact obligations with actual <br />deliveries approximately every 10 days and adjusts the curtailment, if necessary. <br />1.4.3 Amended Costilla Creek Compact <br />Costilla Creek originates in the mountains of Colorado just north of the border with New Mexico and <br />flows into New Mexico, where the first irrigation use occurs, and then back into Colorado. The creek <br />then turns south and joins the Rio Grand just south of the Colorado -New Mexico border. In most <br />years, however, no surface flow from Costilla Creek reaches the Rio Grande River. Most of the water <br />supply for irrigation in the basin comes from surface water. <br />There have been historical conflicts between the Costilla Creek water users in Colorado and New <br />Mexico. The Costilla Creek Compact was originally negotiated and signed in 1944. The compact was <br />amended in 1963, and some differences of opinion persist to the present time. According to the <br />compact, a water master is paid for by both Colorado and New Mexico to administer the compact. <br />Each state also provides an engineer advisor to the water master. Important issues in the basin include <br />maintenance of instream flows and timely data availability to help substantiate the water master's <br />water administrative decisions. <br />1.4.4 Water User Organizations <br />The Rio Grande Water Conservation District (RGWCD) was created in 1967 pursuant to Article 48, <br />Title 37, Colorado Revised Statutes. The functions of the RGWCD include promoting water <br />development in the San Luis Valley, determining water policy, coordinating legal and engineering <br />matters affecting the Valley, and assisting in the development of new projects. The RGWCD, as <br />primary sponsor of the Closed Basin Project, has contracted with the USBR to maintain and operate <br />the Closed Basin Project (described in greater detail in Section 1.3.1). <br />Other major water user groups or interest groups in the Rio Grande basin are: <br />• San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District <br />• Conejos Water Conservancy District <br />• Rio Grande Water Users Association <br />• Saguache Creek Water Users Association <br />• Alamosa-La Jara Water Conservancy District <br />• Trinchera Irrigation Company <br />• Costilla County Water Conservancy District <br />• Citizens for San Luis Valley Water <br />• Nature Conservancy <br />State and federal agencies interested in San Luis Valley water issues include: <br />• Colorado Division of Water Resources <br />a454/report/fmaUintro.doc 07/2&~OS 1-O <br />