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. . · 00070' ~ that existing water uses in Colorado could continue with little or no curtailment. At the present time. existing uses in Colorado are being curtailed to meet treaty and compact requirements. Proiect Costs (Estimated) Water salvage Fish and wildlife enhancement Recreation $24,652,900 1,555,100 1.075.000 Total Cost $27,2B3,000 Water allocation Mexican Treaty Irrigation and compact debits Alamosa National wildlife Re;uge 60,000 a.f. 35,500 a.f. 5,300 a.f. Total 100,BOO a.f. Benefit-cost ratio 1.6 to 1 Total annual benefits $2,231,000 Environmental Impact The environmental impact occasioned by the proposed project would be favorable. The project would cause the Rio Grande River to become a continuous live stream throughout the Rio Grande Gorge, an area which is a part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system. Much of the Closed Basin area is now virtually sterile as a result of salt accumulations. The project will reverse the salt trend and permit the re-establishment of native vegetation and native wildlife. Unlike many projects of this nature, no resources would be irreversibly committed. An additional beneficial effect will be the sustained flow in the channel of the Rio Grande downstream from Alamosa. This continuous flow will reduce siltation and aggradation in the channel, a condition which has resulted from upstream diversions. This continuous flow from the project will promote migratory bird and fish habitat and tend to restore the river to its earlier condition. The Rio Grande Compact provides that the state of Colorado shall not be credited with any water delivered from the Closed Basin unless a proportion of sodium ions in such water shall be less than 45 per- cent of the total positive ions when the total dissolved solids in -2-