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

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Since there are no major diversions in Colorado downstream of the Closed Basin

Project delivery point to the Rio Grande, the Priority One and Priority Three

Project deliveries will primarily allow greater mainstem flow diversions upstream

of the del ivery poi:' '- by exchange (in meeting Colorado's Compact obligations).

Long term average annual delivery potential of the Closed Basin Project is estimated

for the Rio Grande Water Supply Study as follows.

Priority One Use 60,000 af
Priority Two Use 5,300 af
Priority Three Use 34,500 af
Total 99,800 af

Principles of distribution of Priority One Project deliveries to the Rio Grande

are contained in the authorizing legislation and subsequent resolutions among water

users as discussed below.

1.

The authorizing legislation for the Closed Basin Division of the San Luis

Valley Project (Section 104 (b) (1) of the Reclamation Project Authorization

Act of 1972, Public Law 92-514, 86 Stat. 964) provides (emphasis added):

"(1) to assist in making the annual delivery of water at the gauging station

on the Rio Grande near Lobatos, Colorado, as required by Article III of the

Rio Grande Compact: provided, that the total amount of water delivered for

this purpose shall not exceed an aggregate of 600,000 acre-feet for any period

of ten consecutive years

"

2.

A February 19, 1985 Resolution (included as Appendix C) of the Rio Grande

Water Conservation District regarding the Allocation of the Yield of the

Closed Basin Project provides:

a.

Usable project yield is that quantity of water which can be made

physically available to water users on the Rio Grande or on the Conejos

by exchange. Usable yield shall not include deliveries pursuant to the

terms of the Rio Grande Compact which are in excess of the obligations

for the Rio Grande and for the Conejos River.

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