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<br />'i~~~' <br /> <br />the U1:l:l.ted States Govermnent to provide a perfect water supply year <br /> <br />af'ter year for lands, the irrigation of 'Which oommenoed long after the <br /> <br />development of the lands in the am Luis Valley. The most pessimistic <br /> <br />investigator, using the most conservative methods of calculation, oan <br /> <br />i'ind but two years from 1894 to date 'When a shortage in the water supply <br /> <br />f'or the lands under the Elephant Butte Reservoir would have occurred. <br /> <br />From the standpoint of equity, it would seem the Colorado development <br />should be plaoed on a parity with the New Mexico and Texas development, <br /> <br />so far as an assured dependable supply of water is concerned, particularly <br /> <br />sinoe the former development is senior to the major portion of the latter. <br /> <br />It appears also that the water could be properly regulated for the Colorado <br /> <br />lands without materially affeoting the _ter supply for the d01l1nstream lands. <br /> <br />The interestate problem in the San Luis '\b.lley concerns in <br /> <br />general only the Rio Grande above Alamosa, and the Conejos River and its <br /> <br />tributaries, and the Closed Basin insofar as water f'rom it oan be _de <br /> <br />tributary to the Rio Grande. The waters of the southeast area,"Iis., the <br /> <br />Trinchera, Culebra end Costilla basins are largely oonsumed, and the <br /> <br />streams in that area in general have adequate reservoir development. <br /> <br />'While some minor storage development will be neoessary OIl some of the <br /> <br />streams of' the Closed Basin, particularly if the present predominating <br /> <br />orop of native hay in that area is chaDged to high priced row crops, <br /> <br />suoh development will not ef'fect interstate relations, since the Closed <br /> <br />Basin contributes no _ter to the Rio Grande, Alemosa River and La Jara <br /> <br />Creek are fully developed so far as reservoirs are ooncerned. :therefore. <br /> <br />the only reservoir development in the San Luis Valley, that would affeot <br /> <br />.'''.' <br /> <br />- 7 - <br /> <br />c: <br /> <br />rJ fO;:) <br />4'':'' <br />