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<br />Flooding in the west part of town may be expected to continue <br />to some extent as a result of the four square miles of <br />uncontrolled North Drainage,l This problem exists because <br />there is no defined channel for the runoff until it meanders to <br />Rito Seco Creek at Sixth Street, <br /> <br />In 1985, the Colorado Department of Highways replaced a <br />dangerous bridge at the location along State Highway 159 and <br />the Rito Seco, The old highway bridqe at this location was <br />estimated to be a 20 foot span with a 4. foot vertical opening <br />(80 square foot of opening), The Highway Department replaced <br />the bridge with two 24 inch corrugated metal pipe culverts (see <br />4.9) , <br /> <br />3.2 Subsurface Water ProblemS <br /> <br />The present "wet cycle" in the San Luis Valley is impactinq the <br />residents of San Luis. The associated effects of a high qround <br />water table and water entering the basements and crawl spaces <br />of the residents is causing a health and safety issue. The <br />present high ground water condition has increased over the past <br />two years to a critical situation, The early homes in San Luis <br />did not have basements and crawl spaces. The upgrading of <br />homes in San Luis with inside plumbinCj hae: necessitated the <br />requirement for basements and crawl spaces to accommodate the <br />modern plumbing. A recent survey by the Conejos-Costilla <br />Community Action Agency indicates that: sixty six (66) homes <br />have been impacted by subsurface watE,r in their basem'2nts and <br />crawl spaces, The residents have been forced to pump the <br />subsurface ground water from their basl2ments and crawl spaces <br />into the town sewer system, This action of pumping has <br />impacted the sewage lagoon facility by causing an excess <br />discharge into Culebra Creek (see 4.4. ), One home impacted by <br />subsurface water prOblems was built over 15 years ago and water <br />problems have occurred only during the past two years,7 <br /> <br />A field inspection by the U,S, Soil Conservation Service of two <br />homes in the area was conducted on Septembe'r 4, 19f16, The <br />conclusions of the inspection did not reveal whether irrigation <br />water mayor may not be the cause of the subsurface water <br />problems. <br /> <br />4.0 ACTIONS TAKEN TO DATE <br /> <br />4.1 Work Pro ject Administration (WPJ\,.L_,12..30 '~ <br /> <br />San Luis in the 1930' s was not developed to the North and <br />East, Most of the town centered around the town hall" county <br />courthouse, church, and business dis trict, During the years of <br />1934-1935 , the Town was plagued with subsurface water <br />problems. crumbling basements, and an.eslan '",ells flo,/ing on <br />top of the ground, <br /> <br />-5- <br />