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<br />1-4 <br /> <br />affords a tool to be used in such planning. It will assist those <br /> <br />responsible for such planning to assure maximum benefits to the <br />area with minimum adverse effect on the streams. <br /> <br />Summary of the Use of Water in the San Luis Valley <br /> <br />Water related problems as we know them today in the San Luis <br /> <br /> <br />Valley have developed largely as a result of the common misconcep- <br /> <br /> <br />tion that water is an inexhaustible resource, able to withstand <br /> <br />any and all abuses. Today the finite and fragile nature of this <br /> <br />precious resource is recognized. As a result of this recognition <br />procedures have been adopted to protect its quality, regulate its <br /> <br />use, and assure its users of an equitable distribution. <br /> <br />Until very recently such problems related only to the distri- <br /> <br />bution of available water supplies. The first recognized diversion <br /> <br />of water in the San Luis Valley occurred in the community of San <br />Luis when the Peoples Ditch was constructed in 1852. The ditch <br />diverted water from Culebra Creek to irrigate lands in that area. <br />It prQved successful and was followed by diversions from Costilla <br />Creek in 1854 and by many other diversions in the fOllowing years. <br />Most of the diversions constructed before 1880 were for small quan- <br /> <br />tities of water and were located on minor streams around the peri- <br /> <br />meter of the Valley. <br /> <br />~- -.', <br /> <br />c: <br /> <br />,~ - ") <br />,- , <br />If -..iJ '" <br />