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Section 6 <br />Site-Specific Opportunities and Limitations <br />Southwest (Dolores, San Juan, San Miguel River Basins) <br />^ The Southwest Basin is composed of separate and distinct river basins. The rivers in <br />the basin are primarily governed by the Colorado River Compact. Water <br />conservation options are possible without significant concerns regarding the <br />Colorado River Compact; however, the La Plata River flows are impacted by <br />compact delivery obligations to New Mexico. There are delivery obligations on the <br />La Plata at the Hesperus gage that are tied to upstream flows. Conservation <br />measures can reduce return f lows and impact the Compact deliveries. In this basin, <br />there are concerns about impacts of water conservation measures on groundwater <br />levels and domestic wells. <br />High Plains (South Platte, Arkansas, and Republican) <br />^ Pumping of groundwater in the High Plains is currently at a rate that substantially <br />exceeds recharge. There are increasing energy costs to pump this water as water <br />levels drop and pumping head increases. Any measures to reduce the amount <br />needed for irrigation will reduce energy costs and extend the life of the aquifer. <br />The State of Colorado should consider conducting an in depth basin by basin analysis <br />of the opportunities f or agricultural water conservation measures incorporating the <br />potential benef its and limitations as outlined in this report. <br />DRAFT 6-4 <br />