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<br />alkaline, and are associated with wet-meadow vegetation. The water table under <br /> <br />these soils varies from 1-1/2- to 4-feet deep. Immediately adjacent to the <br /> <br />Rio Grande, the soils are almost pure sand and gravel. Water table height is <br /> <br />directly associated with riverflows. These soils are droughty, highly per- <br /> <br />meable, and are associated with cottonwood and willow stands. From a mineral <br /> <br />standpoint, little or no mineral activity has occurred or is anticipated in the <br /> <br />area. <br /> <br />3. Hydrology, water rights, and operation and maintenance (O&M) <br /> <br />aspects. The San Luis Valley has abundant ground water, resulting primarily <br /> <br />from runoff from surrounding mountains. Inflow to the closed basin is generally <br /> <br />composed of the discharge of natural streams, springs, artesian wells, precipi- <br /> <br />tation, and seepage from deep aquifers. Detailed discussions of sources of <br /> <br />water and use are discussed in FES 79-37 and FES 82-44. <br /> <br />Three major irrigation ditches pass through the property. The northernmost <br /> <br />is the San Luis Ditch. This ditch is a diversion from the Rio Grande. At the <br /> <br />point where the ditch enters this property, only the Lillpop brothers and ,the <br /> <br /> <br />Refuge have rights to use San Luis Ditch water. The Lillpops do not intend <br /> <br />to sell any shares in this ditch, and their water, would be used on land to the <br /> <br />west of this tract. The refuge would then have rights to use its shares in this <br /> <br />ditch from the point where it enters this property. From this point, the Refuge <br /> <br />would have sole ownership of the ditch to the end of the ditch located within <br /> <br />the present Refuge boundary. <br /> <br />r' '\, 34'~ <br />~) v U ..... <br /> <br />UI-3 <br />