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RIO GRANDE WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT 10900 HIGHWAY 160 EAST • ALAMOSA, COLORADO 81101-9518 Phone: (719) 589-6301 • Fax: (719) 589-4331 September 13, 2001 Members ofthe C.W.C.B. 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 af/yr. It became evident early on that these projections were optimistic, but early ptunping did indicate tha.t production of around 65,004 af/yr was possible. This figure was adequa.te 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 lugh levels of iron bacteria. and slim forming bacteria were growing on the well casings and in the wells gravel pack that sealed offthe 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 af. The Rio Grande Water Conservation District (R.G.W.C.D.) considers it to be very important to restore the productivity of the 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 Crrande 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 certa.in minunum levels of production from the Closed Basin Project and the levels which we are now seeing aze projected to fail to meet the long term running average numbers necessary to insure tha.t 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 xnini _mi�ing the bio- fouling problem In addition, the B.O.R. is re-drilling another well with revised parameters in order to compare the alterna.te designs. In conclusion, I believe that the function of the Closed Basin Project ma.kes it a matter of statewide concern and suitable for grant funding. As a member of the C.W.C.B., I understa.nd 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