BOARD00600

• Board Meeting Date: 3/19/1956
• Description: Minutes
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

-4ffJ: 4/ G ~

MR. SWEET:

MR. MOSES:

MR. HEADLEE:

MR. S'tlEET:

MR. HEADLEE:

!\oIR. SWEET:

MR. HEADLEE:

MR. S'tlEET:

MR. McLAUGHLIN:

"I think that should be a legal question.
First, I would do all possib1'e to keep
it from affecting artesian wells. I
think by our plan of studies we can
determine the effects that the plan
would have."

I

"I will say as stated in my letter
to Mr. Crawford, that if this injures
anybody, I am opposed to it and
everybody in the San Luis Valley
would be, too."

'~ou know, of course as well as I do,
the cities of Alamosa, Monte Vista, .
and Center, Colorado, besides the
majority of our farms and ranches
depend on artesian water. I believe
you also know that the source of this
water has never been fully determined."

"I have never talked to anyone who was
firmly convinced he could state the
exact location of the water."

"We have some direct examples that have
convinced some of us that our unde~ound
water table has a great deal to do with
artesian wells. We have one direct example,
hard to dispute, and that is why we
are fearful of this whole proposition.
If that should affect what little we
have left, it would be a calamity,
not only to our towns, but to the
entire economy of that valley. One of
our main assets is artesian and under-
ground water. Only on account of that
water, have we been able to raise any
crops the last few years. Now, would
you have any idea that you might
want to deepeno. those wells if conditions
worked favorably?"

"As I said before, I am convinced that
we should keep the wells above the clay
layer where there is no artesian pressure."

I

"Have you any idea as to how fast
the water travels to the east?"

"That depends on slope of the water
table. I think it moves about five
or ten feet per year."

"It wasn't that slow. It was several feet
per day." .