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<br />constructed on the Chama River. The effect of reservoir and drainage <br /> <br />development in the San Luis Valley will be to reduce the fl~{ of water <br /> <br />in April, May and June, \v.hich at present is high and considerably in <br /> <br />excess of the requirements of the !Eiddle Rio Grande lands, and to in- <br /> <br />crease the supply in July, August and September, during which time it <br /> <br />at present is deficient. <br /> <br />During years of low water supply, such as 1902, 1931 and <br /> <br />1934, under the propcsed development in the San Luis Valley, the entire <br /> <br />flow during the irrigation season at Buckman will be improved. This is <br /> <br />true since the total flow of the Rio Grande in Colorado during loVl years <br /> <br />is diverted and, due to the deficiency in the supply, the available <br /> <br />return flow susceptible of development by drainage construction is SJJlall. <br /> <br />Under the proposed development, the normal amount of water would be <br /> <br />diverted during years of low water supply, by virtue of its being made <br /> <br />available by carrying over the surplus \.ater of years of high flow in <br /> <br />the proposed reserV1Jirs. Since the diversions during the years of low <br /> <br />supply would be normal, the return flow also would be normal, which would <br /> <br />make for a greater direct fl~l supply during those years for the Middle <br /> <br />Rio Grande Conservancy District. <br /> <br />As heretofore stated, it is assumed that, if reservoir <br /> <br />capaci ty were constructed on the Upper Rio Grande in an amount sufficient <br /> <br />to insure diversions of 600,000 acre feet each year between Del Nort8 <br /> <br />and Alamosa, and if the ~ump Drain were constructed, return flow in an <br /> <br />fuROunt of at least 100,000 acre feet per year would result. it is <br /> <br />f, 2S'J <br />,-' ~ <br /> <br />-24- <br />