WSP05248

• File Number: 8507
• Description: Rio Grande Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Date: 1/1/1935
• Title: Resume of the Problem Concerning the Rio Grande Above Fort Quitman/ Texas
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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However, it is evident that the operation of large reser-

voirs in the Valley neoessarily would result in a material change in the

yearly outflow at the state Line, although over a period of years the

mean flow might not be materially ohanged. In order that reservoirs

should be ef'fective, flood flows in --c years must be stored and, in

some oases, carried over for a period of years to take care of defi-

cienoies that otherwise would result in years of low flow. The

state Line outflow by this prooess would be depleted in years of high
flow, but would be augmented during years of low flow. Such operation

should not be materially detrimental to the water supply for the lands

under the Elephant Butte Reservoir, except possibly during protraoted

periods of drouth.

Due to :the interstate and international controversies over

the uses of the waters of the Rio Grande, which have prevented the con-

struotion of necessary reservoirs in the am Luis Valley, the lands

irrigated there. the development of 'Which was made prior to 1890, must

depend upon the run of the streams f'or their water supply, as a result

of ?lhich seasonal water shortages occur praotically every year and

severe annual shortages oocur frequently. The recurrence of a cyole

of' low runoff such as prevailed from 1890 to 1904 would mean the

temporary abandonment of a substantial portion of the irrigation develop-

ment in the San Luis Valley, and the migration of some of the irrigators

of the valley, the same as happened during the latter portion of the
1890- 1904 period of low runoff. On the other hand, the Elephant Butte

Reservoir., with a capacity of 2,600,000 acre feet was constructed by

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