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<br />. <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />changes in groundwater levels within the Closed Basin Project and at the boundaries of the <br />Project]. The ability and record of Project compliance with the water quality requirements of the <br />Rio Grande Compact are provided to the Committee. The status of Project water deliveries, <br />maintenance and special operating problems are also commonly included in their report. DOWR <br />report is usually made by Division Engineer Steve Vandiver and at the spring meeting is focused <br />on the~need for Project production to assist Colorado in meeting t~ Rio Grande Compact <br />obligations. The report at the fall meeting often includes an update on status of Compact <br />deliveries, Project contribution year to date and probable need for Project production in the <br />ensumg year . <br /> <br />The have been several years since the Project began producing that Elephant Butte Reservoir in <br />New Mexico spilled, eliminating Rio Grande Compact obligation for Colorado during that year. <br />During those years production from the project, at the recommendation of the Operating <br />Committee, has been reduced to levels just sufficient for maintenance purposes and deliveries to <br />the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge and the Blanca Habitat Area. In other years where there <br />is a need for project production to assist Colorado in meeting Compact obligations the Project <br />has often been pumped at the maximum practical. <br /> <br />At the conclusion of most Committee meetings a resolution is passed recommending project <br />production levels to the Bureau of Reclamation. These recommendations are based upon <br />evidence of compliance with drawdown restrictions as described in the authorizing legislation, <br />water quality limitations, need for project production to satisfy Colorad(ts Rio Grande Compact <br />obligations, and deliveries to the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge and the Blanca Wildlife <br />Habitat Area. To-date the Bureau of Reclamation has operated the Project at the production <br />levels recommended by the Committee. <br /> <br />1 Sec. 102 (a) Prior to commencement of construction of any part of the project, there shall be <br />incorporated into the project plans a control system of observation wells, which shall be <br />designed to provide positive identification of any fluctuations in the water table of the area <br />surrounding the project attributable to operation of the project or any part thereof. Such control <br />system, or so much thereof as is necessary to provide such positive identification with respect <br />to any stage of the project, shall be installed concurrently with such stage of tl1\; project. <br />b) The Secretary shall operate project facilities in a manner that will not caus~he water table <br />available for any irrigation or domestic wells in existence ou~de the project boundary prior to <br />the construction of the project to drop more than two feet and1'n a manner that will not cause <br />reduction of artesian flows in existence prior to the construction of the project. <br /> <br />(,~'3~82 <br />