BOARD00036

• Board Meeting Date: 11/19/2001
• Description: CF Section - En-Bloc Non-Reimbursable Investment Recommendations
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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RIO GRANDE WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
10900 HIGHWAY 160 EAST ' ALAMOSA, COLORADO 81101.9518
Phone: [phone] ' Fax: [phone]

September 13, 2001

Members of the C.W.CB. Finance Committee,

First, let me apologize for not attending the September meeting. I am accused of only
working three weeks a year, but this happens to be it. I understand that you will be considering
an application for grant funds by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the re-drilling and
rehabilitations of wells within the Closed Basin Project I would like to provide a little
background on the issues surrounding this application,

The Closed Basin Project wells were originally designed to pump up to approximately
115,000 a11yr, It became evident early on that these projections were optimistic, but early
pumping did indicate that production of around 65,000 a:f7yr was possible, This figure was
adequate to provide the quantities of water for Compact deliveries and environmental mitigation
contemplated by the enabling legislation. However, as pumping continued, declines were noted in
well production, When the cause of the declines were investigated, it was found that high levels
of iron bacteria and slim fonning bacteria were growing on the well casings and in the wells gravel
pack that sealed off the aquifer from the wells. Various treatments have been tried to open up the
gravel pack, but none have been very successful. Project production in 2001 will not be much
more than 20,000 at:

The Rio Grande Water Conservation District (RG,W.C.D,) considers it to be very
important to restore the productivity ofthe Project The Project production is an important part
of Compact deliveries and the maximum utilization of waters in Colorado. In addition, it is the
basis for what is called the "6/40 Agreement" between water users on the Rio Grande main stem
and the water users on the Conejos River, the major tributary to the Rio Grande. The Agreement
settles disputes between the two river systems about well depletion. The Agreement is tied to
certain minimum levels of production from the Closed Basin Project and the levels which we are
now seeing are projected to fail to meet the long term running average numbers necessary to
insure that the 60/40 agreement would remain valid. The Rio Grande Water Conservation
District has allocated $30,000 to be used for re-drilling one well in the Project with a different
design and operating envelope which we hope will show positive results in minimizing the bio-
fouling problem. In addition, the B.O,R, is re-drilling another well with revised parameters in
order to compare the alternate designs. In conclusion, I believe that the function of the ClosedBasin Project makes it a matter of statewide concern and suitable for grant funding.

. As a member of the C,W.C.B., I understand the policy implication of making grants to the
Federal Government I do not recall dealing with such an application in the past. This will have