WSP04624

• File Number: 8220.145.A
• Description: La Plata Project ‎(New Mexico)‎
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Date: 4/1/1944
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: La Plata Project: Colorado-New Mexico - Project Investigations Report No. 32-A
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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PLANS OF DEVELOPMENT

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Reservoir Si tes

Supplemental water supply must be provided by storage of waters
of the La Plata Basin, because of the excessive cost of importation
from adjacent basins. Storage as high as prac tic able is desiroble
in Colorado to serve as much of the irrigated area as possible; also,
storage is desirable in the vicinity of the state line to conserve
return flow, waste, and storm waters not usable in Colorado, to meet
New Mexico requirements, and to provide much needed flood protection
to New Mexico lands and irrigation systems.

The reservoir sites investigated for storage development included
the Hesperus on La Plata River, just above Hesperus; Thompson Park and
Gold Bar on Cherry Creek; Hay Gulch and Red Mesa on Hay Gulch; Long
Hollow near the La Plata-Animas Divide; and La Plnta No.1 and State
Line on La Plata River, near the state line. (See location maV,
drawing 56-D-35.)

Preliminary study shows that the Long Hollow, Bed Mesa, and State
Line sites could be developed more economically than the other sites,
and only. these three sites were included in the various project plnns
cons idered.

Selection of Plan of Development

To determine the best combination of reservoirs for the project,
eight possible alternative combinations of reservoirs were studied,
as ShOlm on the accompanying chart. In all plans the State Line
Reservoir was assumed to have a capacity of 32,000 acre-feet, of which
5,00P was allocated to silt retention, 12,000 to irrigation, and 15,000
to flood control. The capacities of Long Hollow and of Red Mesa
Reservoirs were varied with each of the plans as indicated on the chart.

Since the reservoirs are not at sufficient elevations to permit
diversions from storage to the higher irrigated lands in Colorado,
the operation studies were made to show the benefits to those lands
above the outlet canal from Long Hollow Reservoir (upper ditches),
limited to use of waters which would otherwise have to be bypassed,
and to Colorado lands which can be Aerved from the outlet canal (lower
ditches) .

The accompanying chart shows the amount of supplemental water
available for the years 1928-39, inclusive, under each of the eight
plans.

These plans were discussed at various times with the State
Engineers of Colorado and New Mexico, who are the official adminis-
trators of the La Plata Biver Compact, and also with water users and
interested stiCte al:c. Federal official,~. A local committoe of six,
throe from el)o~h st'-,:,;e, c onsidored frcm time to time the .various plans
and conferrei with the state engineers, Bureau officials, and other
interested pa~ties.

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