PROJ00518

• Contract/PO #: C153484
• Contractor Name: San Luis Valley Water Conservation District
• Contract Type: Grant
• Water District: 0
• County: Rio Grande
• Bill Number: FSG
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

RIO GRANDE WATER SUPPLY STUDY - PHASE I

Introduction

The Rio Grande Water Supply Study was a reconnaissance level determination of

the physically and legally available flow (storable flow) at four potential

reservoir sites in the Rio Grande Basin upstream of Del Norte, Colorado. The

study, sponsored by the San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District and the

Colorado Water Conservation Board, was performed by Leonard Rice Consulting Water

Engineers, Inc.

Study Area

The Rio Grande Basin within Colorado is located in south central Colorado and

encompasses approximately 7500 square miles The primary feature of the basin

is the relatively flat valley floor (known as the San Luis Valley or Valley).

The major drainage features in the Valley are the Rio Grande which flows in a

generally south-easterly direction to the Colorado-New Mexico stateline, and the

Conejos River which is the major tributary to the Rio Grande.

Approximately 3,000 square miles in the northern part of the Valley is separated

by a low divide formed by alluvial materials from the surrounding mountains.

This area, known as the Closed Basin, is a natural sump.

The major water development features in the Basin include three reservoirs in

the headwaters of the Rio Grande, a number of diversion structures and canals

in the Conejos River and on the Rio Grande mainstem which provide water mainly

for irrigation, and the Closed Basin Project which is currently being

constructed. The Closed Basin Project will consist of a series of wells and

conveyance structures to transfer water from the Closed Basin sump to the

mainstem of the Rio Grande.

i