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<br />OOllH <br /> <br />Draft - 9/81 <br /> <br />was discussed in Chapter 5. These estimates are based on pro- <br /> <br />jected land use patterns shown in Table 4. <br /> <br />Rio Grande <br /> <br />This study concludes that no significant amount of increased <br />acreage will be irrigated in the Rio Grande Region by the y~ar <br />. <br /> <br />2000. This conclusion takes account of the possibility that the <br /> <br />Closed Basin Project will be constructed. <br /> <br />In 1966 the states of New Mexico and Texas sued Colorado, <br /> <br />alleging that Colorado water users were consuming more water than <br /> <br />their entitlement. The case was continued when Colorado agreed <br /> <br />to supply the required water. The proposed Closed Basin Project <br /> <br />would pump ground water from the Alamosa Format ion in the San <br /> <br />Luis Valley into the Rio Grande River. This pumping would sal- <br /> <br />..r <br /> <br />vage water which Is currently consumed non-beneficially by native <br /> <br />vegetat ion in the Closed Basin. It would al so make it easier for <br /> <br />Colorado to supply the required water at the state line. This in <br /> <br />turn would mean that some Colorado water uses that are currently <br /> <br />curtailed because of Colorado's obligation to New Mexico and <br /> <br />Texas would receive some additional water. In all likelihood, <br /> <br />any such water would be applied to currentiy developed fields; no <br /> <br />expansion of irrigated acreage Is foreseen in the region. <br /> <br />Southwest <br /> <br />The high estimate for the Southwest Region assumes that, in <br /> <br />addition to the Dolores Project described in Chapter 5, the <br /> <br />Animas-La Plata and San Miguel Projects wili also be built. <br /> <br />Together these three projects would provide an additional 167,550 <br /> <br />7 <br />