WSP03649 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

co o ~ C\l c.:.> o (4) Financial Issues. Additional Federal-State and local funds are needed to accelerate the implementation of the San Luis Valley RC&D programs. Although $300,000 have been appropriated for pre-con- struction planning of the authorized Closed Basin Project for salvage of Closed Basin waters, assurance to Colorado is needed. that adequate and regular construction funds are appropriated to complete th~,project l!EL soon aa possib Ie,. Problem Area 2, ASA 1301. The area is the Rio Grande watershed above the stream gage six miles west of Del Norte in parts of Hinsdale, Rio Grande, and Mineral Counties. The hydrologic ar~a is 844,800 acres, of which 803,000 acres are in the Rio Grande National Forest. The population is estimat~d to be 5,120. Creede, population about 625, is the largest town in the area. The major industries are tourism, stock production, timber production and mining. The area is a pop- ular summer recreation area with its excellent stream fishing and hunting, and outdoor recreation facilities. The only irrigation in the area is on about 2,600 acres of meadow land. The average annual runoff of the Rio Grande at the Del Norte stream gage is 578.6 MCD, about 24% of .the surface inflow into ASA1301. (1) Water Issues. Willow Creek, a tributary of the Rio.Grande flows through the town of ~reede, and is polluted by mill effluent and large amounts of sediment that wash into the stream during hard rains. Fish kills on Willow Creek and the' Rio Grande below have been noted following a period of hard rains. The unincorporated town of South Fork and the many homes. located along the South Fork-of the Rio Grande need a sewage collection system and treatment plant to allev- iate the pollution of the South Fork and the Rio Grande. (2) Related Land IssueS. The expanding use of recreation vehicles and hiking on mountain roads and trails are creating an erosion and sedimentatlon problem which must be prevented in some manner. There is a need for additional campgrounds, picnic areas, hiking and skiing trails, and roads for four-wheeling to meet the growing demand for. these recreational facilities. (3) Institu.tional Issues. Same as for Problem Area 1. (4) Financial Issues.. Increased and regular Federal and State funds are needed to meet the growing demand for recreational facilities. Problem Area 3, ASA 1301. The area is the drainage of the Rio Grande and its tributaries from the stream gage on the river.near Del Norte to the Colorado-New Mexico State line. The area is in Conejos.and Cost.illa Counties and in parts of .Rio Grande and Alamosa Counties. The total area is 2,273,600 acres,()f which 323,100 acres are in National Forests and 176,000 acres are Bureau of Land Manage- ment lands. The population is 28,195. The principaltradir.g centers 8