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<br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br /> <br />4 <br /> <br />tolerable in that diversions during years of high river flow have recharged the <br />aquifer to enable the farmers to "get by" during years of low river flow, In <br />effect the aquifer has been used as an underground reservoir. However, 8S with <br />any reservoir, if no storage is permitted, there comes a point at which nothing <br />more can be withdraWll, It is this overall effect which appears to be the most <br />disastrous and which definitely concerns thc water users. Hopefully the analog <br />model of the ground water condi tions in the San Luis Valley, presently being <br />developed by the U. S. Geological Survey, will be helpful in determining more <br />accurately the actual interrelationships which exist. <br /> <br />It is reported that land values in some parts of the San Luis Valley have dropped <br />$50.00 per acre during 1968. It is also reported that some lending agencies are <br />more reluctant to lonn money for opera ting capi tal to farmers in these areas as <br />a result of the water situation, <br /> <br />If tllere is to be any relief from the situation, it must of necessity cqme <br />quickly to be of benefit to those property owners presently in the San Luis <br />Valley. <br /> <br />RECONMJ<:1'.TJlED SOLUTIONS 1'0 TIlE mODL>>! <br /> <br />The Rio Grande Ifater Conservation District has been formed to deal with this <br />and other related water resource I!Illnagement problenls in the San Luis Vulley, <br />At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Rio Grande I,ater Conservation <br />District held July 8, 1968, it was decided that each board member would be <br />requested to enumerate possible projects in his area to be studied and <br />possibly undertaken to facilitate compliance wi th the Rio Grande Compact wi th- <br />out the concurrent adverse effect on decreed appropriations. <br /> <br />The following tabulation of recommendations made by the board members is not <br />intended to be final nor cxhaustive but rather indicative of possibilities <br />and are listed in an approximate order of priority on the basis of present <br />knowledge and thinking. <br /> <br />1. Cleaning of existing Norton Drain and extension thereof to present <br />terminus of Bountiful Waste Ditch at tbe Sanford Can~l (Plate 1). <br /> <br />2. Channelization of three to four miles of the San Antonio River <br />(Plate 1). <br /> <br />3. Channelization of approximately 15 to 20 miles of the Rio Grande from <br />Alamosa southward beyond its confluenee with the Concjos River (Plate 1). <br /> <br />4. nock Creek channelization and drainage (Plate 2). <br /> <br />5. Closed Basin Drain (Plate 2). <br /> <br />(The following suggested projects are not listed in order of priority inas- <br />much as it is felt that each would require more study to approximate its feasib- <br />ility, importance and benefit,) <br /> <br />a. Additional transmountain diversions. <br /> <br />0557 <br />