WSP04921

• File Number: 8543.600
• Description: San Luis Valley Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Date: 9/2/1987
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: San Luis Valley Project - Colorado - Closed Basin Division
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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3556
SAN LUIS VALLEY PROJECT, CLOSED BASIN DIVISION, COLORAOO_,_,"_

Lindell H. Elfrink*

RiChard E. Demlo**

Lawrence F.. .parsons***

The Closed Basin Division is located in south central Colorado in Alamosa and
Saguache counties. It is named from a topographic basin in the northern portion of
the San Luis Valley which is the uppermost part of the great valley of the Rio
Grande. The San Juan Mountains form the west boundary of the San Luis Valley, the
Sangre de Cristo Range forms the east boundary, and the intersection of these two
highlands, forms the north boundary. The San Luis Hills form the south boundary.

The large portion of San Luis Valley northeast of A\amosa and Monte Vista which does
not drain into the Rio Grande is termed the Closed Basin. The Closed Basin has an
internal drainage area of 2,940 square miles and is separated at the southern end
from the Rio Grande watershed by a low alluvial divide (containing an apparent water
taole divide). Several creeks and'Rio Grande irrigation diversions drain into the
Closed Basin.

Historical Background

Near the end of the 19th century, a ser~es of dry years caused severe water
shortages to the farmers along the Rio Grande. These people discovered that the
river which had met their needs for over 300 years no longer provided enough water.
They looked north to the San Luis Valley and saw a valley-wide system of irrigation
canals which industrious Colorado pioneers had_just_completed._They complained..and _.
rightfully so.

The complaints of the Republic of Mexico were the first to receive attention. In
.. 1891LJh~,Republ_i9.,o.f ,Mexico _sued the .United StatesJocwaters_fz:orn_the _Rio-Gr,ande_--
This resulted in the Treaty of 1906 in which the U.S. agreed to del1verto-Mexicoa -
total of 60,000 acre feet of water annually. Elephant Butte Reservoir was
constructed in 1916 to assist the U.S. in meeting the treaty commitment.

But in Texas and New Mexico the water shortage persisted. An injunction on R.O.W.
for reservoirs on Federal lands combined with threatened lawsuits from'downstream
water users, hampered further development of reservoirs needed to serve the San Luis
Valley. In ~p:itp Of thiR ;m~('Hm~n~ t"~ o~lJ.oy u~t^t' Uli'Ot'"S fA1nilgOO t:Q ~iv3.tely
fund and construct five reservoirs be"ween 1910 and 1913. Also, eight major
irrigation drains were constructed to reclaim some 90,000 acres of land in the
valley which were becoming waterlogged. The valley continued to use water.

The Rio Grande Compact

During this period the states of Texas, New Mexico and Colorado conducted
discussions on their respective water rights on the Rio Grande. In 1923 the three
states seriously started trying to resolve the issue of an equitable distribution of
the waters of the Rio Grande. A temporary compact was drawn up ,in 1928, and on
March ~8, 1938, a formal compact was signed by the commissionerslof the three
states. It was ratified by the Colorado Legislature on February 21, 1939.

--"project Construction Engineer, Closed 8asin Division, U. S. Bureau of Reclamation
**Fleld Engineer, Closed 13asln DiVision, U. :~. Bureau of Reclamation
~*1.-0ttlce EngIneer', .:los(?u ,~aSln DiVISIon, IJ. S. ~wr<?al1 of I{eclamation