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<br /><oj< <br />C0 <br />,,,, <br />.,..-/ <br />.7) <br /> <br />THE SAN LUIS VALL~Y PROJECT - CLOSED BASI~ DIVISION <br /> <br />.-~,.."\ <br />-,' <br /> <br />FACTS AND CONC~;PTS ABOUT THE PROJECT <br /> <br />U. S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />In many areas of the west, the start of a modern agricultural economy was <br />the direct result of Federal Covernment involvement. Agencies like the <br />Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau) built dams, reservoirs, and canal syatems <br />and formed a partnership with the private sector to promote the national <br />goals of settling and developing the arid west. In the San Luis Valley of <br />Colorado, however, development was accomplished by individuals and private <br />companies acting almost completely without Federal assistance. <br /> <br />At the present point in time, the San Luis Valley faces a complex and dif- <br />ficult situation. This situation has been described by Colorado State <br />University economiRts in the following way: <br /> <br />The San Luis Valley stands at the crossroads of its economic future. <br />Because of the exiRting water distribution system in the Valley and the <br />superimposed legal system and legal constraints, a deep insecurity has <br />arisen among the people. Suspicion and economic fear are facts of <br />life. <br /> <br />Presently, the Vallpy is a patchwork of local conservancy districts, <br />ditch companies, drainage districts, water users associations, etc., all <br />interested in protecting their own areas of concern at the expense of <br />any other person or group which might be deemed a threat to their <br />interest. The specific conflicting groups primarily break down into <br />the Conejos River surface users vs. the "closed basin" vs. the rest of <br />the Valley, municipalities vs. Valley water users, the (Closed Basin <br />Project) vs. Subirrigators, Colorado VB. New Mexico, Texas and the <br />Republic of Mexico, etc. <br /> <br />With the (Bureau of Reclamation Closed Basin Project) beginning, it is <br />possible that there iR enough water present in the Valley to fulfill <br />existing water -requirements and interstate commitments, without <br />substantially harming the existing pattern of water use in the Valley. <br />But to approach this objective, a spirit of cooperation and trust must <br />be deve loped . . . ." (quoted from "San Luis Valley Water Problems; A <br />Legal Perspective," by C. E. Radosevich and R.W. Rutz, Colorado State <br />University available as a National Technical Information Service <br />Reprint (Report No. PB 295918) U.S. Department of Commerce/Springfield, <br />VA 22161). <br />