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3.0 DATA ASSESSMENT <br />This section summarizes the data issues important to implementing the Rio Grande Decision <br />Support System (RGDSS) based on evaluating existing data, understanding the current <br />implementation of the State's water resources database (HydroBase), and correlating data <br />requirements to the Needs Assessment performed as part of this feasibility study. It is assumed <br />that any future database development should be internally consistent with HydroBase. Therefore, <br />data was examined in the context of availability, recording frequency, ability to populate a <br />centralized database, quality, applicability to specific components, and, where data are not <br />available, relative effort for collection and integration. <br />The data types identified include diversions, water rights, wells, well pumping, streamflow, <br />climate, snow, forecast, irrigated acreage, crop, water use, ground water, geologic structure, <br />hydrostratigraphy, parameter, and geographic information system (GIS) data. Each data type was <br />evaluated to determine whether the existing data are adequate for the types of analysis that were <br />identified through the needs analysis. <br />3.1 Diversions <br />Surface water diversions have been systematically recorded in Division 3 since the 1910s, <br />reflecting a highly managed and administered resource. These records are most complete in <br />District 20, where every diversion decreed for 10 cubic feet per second (cfs) or more has a <br />recording measurement station. These diversions represent approximately 90 to 95 percent of the <br />water in that district. In other districts, continuous recording is not as prevalent, but the majority <br />of diversions have measuring devices and are visited by the commissioner or his assistants on a <br />daily to weekly frequency. Exceptions are streams off the Sangre de Cristo Mountains above the <br />Baca Ranch and the Great Sand Dunes National Monument. Because these systems have only a <br />single user, they do not require monitoring for administration purposes. <br />Data Assessment: <br />Surface water diversion records throughout Division 3 are available digitally from about 1950 to <br />the present. Records maintained in dBASE represent irregular frequencies. Daily records are <br />generated according to the State-documented fill forward procedure. These records are then <br />populated into HydroBase. Transmountain diversions out of Division 3 into Division 2 are <br />maintained by Division 2 (data are available, but are not from the same source). <br />Many of the diversions have satellite communication equipment installed that allows these <br />stations to report 15-minute data every 6 hours. These data are useful to the division engineer for <br />administration purposes. <br />The quality of surface water diversion records is very good. A high percentage of diversions <br />throughout Division 3 are measured with flumes or weirs and a very high percentage of District <br />20 diversions are continuously recorded. Some diversions are taken as flood water (San Luis <br />Creek and lower Alamosa Creek) and are not conducive to measurement or estimation. <br />The division engineer has requested satellite transceivers for eight additional diversions to <br />improve his management capability. The additional sites have not been identified at this time. <br />a454/report/fmaUdata. doc 7/2&~OS 3 -1 <br />