WSPC04184

• File Number: 8541
• Description: San Luis Valley Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Water Division: 3
• Date: 7/22/1963
• Author: Leon W Hill
• Title: San Luis Valley Project Closed Basin Division - 1963-1965 - Plan of Development of Closed Basin Division, San Luis Valley Project, Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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UNITED STATES
DEPART'~NT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
Region 5
Amarillo, Texas
July 22, 1963

To:

Commissioner, \'lashington, D. C.

From:

Regional Director

Subject:

Plan of Development of Closed Basin Division, San Luis
Valley Project, Colorado

This letter, with its supporting reports, constitutes my
report on the Closed Basin Division, San Luis Valley Project, Colorado.
My report has been prepared under the general authority of Federal
Reclamation Laws (Act of June 17, 1902, 32 Stat. 388, and acts amenda-
tory thereof or supplementary thereto) and under the specific authority
of the Interior Appropriations Act of 1941 (Act of June 18, 1940, Ch.
395 54 Stat. 406).

~~ report is transmitted as the basis for securing congres-
sional authorization of the plan of development for the Closed Basin
Division of the San Luis Valley Project, Colorado, described herein,
and construction of the water salvage and related works contemplated
by the plan. The plan would salvage for beneficial use an average of
101,700 acre-feet of water annually, which is now being lost by evapor-
ation or consumed by salt grass, r~bbit brush, greasewood, and other
vegetation. It would permit delivery of additional Rio Grande flows
to the States of New Mexico and Texas in accordance with the provisions
of the Rio Grande Compact, provide for the establishment of two national
wildlife refuges for preservation and propagation of wildlife, and pro-
vide for development of available fishing and recreational opportuni-
ties. The completion of the investigations on which this report is
based was facilitated by the contribution of funds therefor by the
State of Colorado and the San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District.

The Rio Grande Compact, which provides for apportionment of
the flows of the Rio Grande among the concerned States, recognized the
potentialities for delivery of Closed Basin waters to the Rio Grande
and provides that Colorado shall be credited with the amount of such
water delivered to the Compact station at Lobatos if the proportion of
sodium ions in the salvaged water shall be less than 45 percent of the
total positive ions when the total dissolved solids in such water ex-
ceeds 350 parts per million.