Laserfiche WebLink
<br />submitted to the Commissioners of the three states in June, 1937. The JoiJ1i Investigation Report is a very <br /> <br />impressive study containing much useful information on streamflow, dePletions, and uses from 1892 to <br /> <br />1935. This document and data contained therein was used by t1~e Engineer Advisers to the <br /> <br />Commissioners who prepared a proposal for a compact and submitted it ,(n December, 1937. The basic <br /> <br />;0 <br /> <br />M.C. Hinderlider, State Engineer and Colorado Commissioner, pTovide~' the following analysis of the <br /> <br />. <br />Compact when it was submitted to the Colorado Legislature for ratificationt "The terms of the Rio Grande <br /> <br />Compact accomplish two maior pumoses: FiTst. they protect the pTesept use of water in the various <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />sections of the basin by setting up schedules of delivery of water at the Clplorado-New Mexico stateline <br /> <br />and at San Marcial, which is on the head of Elephant Butte Reservoir, an~ by fixing the average annual <br />T <br /> <br />releases from Elephant Butte Reservoir. Second, the terms of the ComPrtct permit the construction and <br /> <br />operation of additional reservoirs above Elephant Butte Reservoir to regultte the water that is being used <br /> <br /> <br />at the present time, and to capture and make usable, for beneficial use i1 the Upper Rio Grande basin, <br /> <br /> <br />water which otherwise would spill from Elephant Butte Reservoir and be IqSt." (Emphasis added). <br />. of: <br />\" <br />" <br /> <br />Important Provisions to Colorado <br /> <br />In addition to protecting the 1928 to 1937 level of uses in Coloraqo, the Compact allowed the <br /> <br />construction of post-compact reservoirs to regulate the highly uneven ,hows of the Rio Grande and <br />. '" <br /> <br />Conejos River in the San Luis Valley. The runoff is such that two-thir~s of the runoff occurs in one- <br /> <br /> <br />fourth of the year and this runoff does not meet the seasonal inigation de)nands in the San Luis Valley. <br /> <br />. . <br />, <br />The negotiators of the Compact expected Elephant Butte Reservoir to 4pill frequently and, therefore, <br /> <br />, <br />under the terms of the Compact, post-I929 reservoirs would operate freely with little restriction. As we <br />.~- <br />