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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 10 that diversions which would change conditions which affect the measurement of the river in this area would be permitted. Certainly, before any work is started which would tend to reduce this out-of-channel flow the attitude of the Commissioners of New Mexico and Texas should be determined. 9. Additional gaging stations are being installed at strategic points in stream channels in the San Luis Valley which are helping matsrially in solving internal problems. As an example, all return flows above ths mouth of Rock Creek are credited to the Rio Grsnde. Similarly, all return flows below Trinchera Creek are credited to the Conejos River. The return flows between Rock Creek and Trinchera Creek originate from both the Rio Grande and Conejos River in a proportion not yet determined. This year an additional gsging station has bsen installed on the Rio Grande which will furnish valuable information to assist in the deter- mination of proper proportions to be credited to the two rivers. While the Wagon Wheel Gap Reservoir has not been specifically mentioned, it, or a similar structure must come to mind when one su&gests "Control structures on rivers to facilitate administration and to provide storage of surplus waters..." The untimely completion of Platoro Reservoir has caused misgivings ae to the practicability of constructing Wagon Wheel Gap Reservoir. As the goal of the vater salvage projects is to satisfy the conditions of the Rio Grande Compact with the least possible loss to the San Luis Valley water users we sre in the process of eliminating one of two objections to constructing the dam, This is, thst until the debit status of Colorado is removed an additional reservoir is useless, other than for flood protection. Once Colorado attains a credit status and haa reasonable assurance of maintaining it or staying within per- missible limits as defined by the Compact, then Platoro Reservoir can be used Ss originally planned and Wagon Wheel Gap Reservoir can be seriously considered. The remaining objection to construction of Wagon Wheel Gap Ressrvoir ia the uncsrtainty as to the effect its operation would have on water rights of varying seniority. While no investigation has been mads into the matter it seems to be a very complex problem. A full study of proposed operating criteria would have to be made to determine its effect on the many water rights thnt would be affected. This matter is beyond the scope of this report. 10. Administrative procedures have been significantly changed in the past two years to assure compliance with provisions of the Rio Grande Compact and to assure the San Luis Valley water users of the most equitable apportionment of available water in compliance with State law. The fact that administrative procedures have changed to the overall benefit of the local water users seems to aasure future modifications in admini- strative procedures for the good of the great majority. 0540 ~