WSPC05338

• File Number: 8541
• Description: San Luis Valley Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Water Division: 3
• Date: 3/1/1978
• Author: CWCB
• Title: San Luis Valley Project Closed Basin Division - 1976-1979 - Closed Basin Project
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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The FY 1978 appropriation for the project totaled ~574,000. As
of February, 1978, about one-half of a 42-hole explorat1on drilling
program was completed, which includes permanent observation wells to
monitor the confined aquifer. A contract has been prepared to drill
and conduct pump tests at five to ten test well locations in the south-
ern part of the project area. A re-evaluation of available surfac~
waters for salvage is nearing completion. Land surveys in stages I
and II have been completed.

Work presently under way or scheduled for the remainder of this
fiscal year includes U. S. Geological Survey aquifer modeling studies;
surveys of vegetation and wetlands: land surveys; drilling programs;
and engineering studies for development of the Definite Plan Report.

The Administration's budget for FY 1979 includes $500,000 for the
Closed Basin Project. Advance planning studies will be continued.
The Definite Plan Report and the Draft and Final Environmental Impact
Statement are scheduled for completion in FY 1979.

Local SUPPort

There is strong local support for the project. The project is
being supported by ~he Rio Grande Water conservation District, the
Conejos Water Cons(~rvancy District, the San Luis Valley Water Conser-
vancy District, the Rio Grande Water Users Aqsociation, the San Luis
Valley Irrigation Well Owners, Inc., and num~zous other organizations
and entities. It is a reasonable assumption that at least 90 percent
of the water users in the San Luis Valley support the project.

The substantial support which has always e:dsted for project
construction has increased considerably in recent years. This in-
creased support has resulted largely from the unfortunate effects of
the pending caGe of Texas and New Mexico v. Coloraoo. As a result of
this case, the Colorado State Engineer has been forced to curtail
water uses in Colorado. This reduction in water diversions has caused
severe financial hardships, particularly to well owners who for the
most part have junior decrees. The well owners are now attempting to
raise approximately one million dollars to purchase surface water
rights to replace the junior water being pumped from wells. If the
Closed Basin project were constructed, it would not be necessary for
the well owners to bear this heavy financial burden.

Considerable addi:tional support for the project by the valley
residents came about through the incorporation of numerous safeguards
in the authorizing legislation (P.L. 92-514: 86 Stat. 964), as followSJ

1. No project wells. other than observation wells. shall be
permitted to penetrate the aquiclude. or first confining clay layer.

2. Construction of any stage of the project after stage one can
be undertaken only with the consent of the Colorado Water Conservation
Board' and the Rio Grande Water conservation District.

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