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Rio Grande Decision Support System <br />An Overview <br />The Rio Grande Decision Support System (RGDSS) is a water management system being developed by <br />the Colorado Water Conservation Board and Colorado Division of Water Resources to assist in making <br />informed decisions regarding historic and future use of water in the Rio Grande basin. <br />1.0 Introduction <br />2.0 Rio Grande Basin Conditions <br />3.0 San Luis Valley Project <br />4.0 Water Administration Issues <br />1.0 INTRODUCTION <br />As Colorado enters a new era of water management, cooperation among state agencies, water providers, <br />and water users is essential so that informed decisions can be made. The State of Colorado is constantly <br />evaluating management of its water resources in response to increases in population and demand, <br />droughts, and reductions in federal water program funding. Water management for more efficient use of <br />existing supply is receiving greater attention by both water users and state agencies. Therefore, a <br />comprehensive decision support system (DSS) is needed that will provide Colorado agencies, water <br />users, and managers a better means for organizing, accessing, and evaluating a wide range of <br />information and alternative strategies, and to establish informed and factual positions regarding the major <br />issues. <br />In October, 1997 the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) and the Colorado Division of Water <br />Resources (CDWR) identified a need for and funded a feasibility study to develop and implement a DSS <br />for the Rio Grande Basin. In December, 1998, RGDSS construction began with the development of <br />database and appropriate analytical tools for making informed decisions regarding Rio Grande basin <br />water and water management (download RGDSS feasibility study). RGDSS, with an estimated <br />completion data of December 2001, is expected to accomplish the following: <br />• Provide comprehensive, accurate, user-friendly databases compatible with the CDWR <br />HydroBase database <br />• Provide data and models to evaluate alternative water development and administration strategies <br />that can maximize the use of available resources in all types of hydrologic conditions and the <br />development of sound water resources management strategies <br />• Provide a functional, integrated system that can be maintained and upgraded by the State <br />• Have the capability to accurately represent current and potential federal and state administrative <br />and operational policies and laws <br />• Promote information sharing among government agencies and water users <br />2.0 Rio Grande Basin Conditions <br />2.1 Basin Setting <br />The Rio Grande basin (Figure 1-1) within Colorado is located in south-central Colorado and <br />encompasses approximately 7,500 square miles (U.S. Department of Agriculture 1978). The primary <br />feature of the basin is an open, almost treeless, relatively flat valley floor (known as the San Luis Valley) <br />surrounded by mountains. The valley floor ranges in elevation from 7,440 feet on the south end to 8,000 <br />feet on the north end, and is bounded on the west by the San Juan Mountains and on the east by the <br />Sangre de Cristo Mountains. <br />