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run-off within the basin remains essentially as estimated at the time of preparation of the preliminary plan for the Closed Basin drain, it is now concluded that the opportunities for salvaging of surface run-off within the Closed Basin sump area are limited largely to the irrigation wastes and drainage return flows from the Rio Grande service area along the west side of the basin with some likelihood of nominal surface inflow during favorable years from Saguache Creek to the west, San Luis Creek to the north and the minor tributaries along the eastern face of the Closed Basin. It is considered that the primary opportunity for salvage of waters presently non-beneficially consumed in the basin lies in pumping of ground waters contiguous to the sump line of the basin beginning shortly downstream from Russell Lakes north of Center and continuing downstream to about the head of San Luis Lakes together with the ground waters underlying the areas east of the sump and west of the irrigated areas from immediately below Little Spring Creek down to U. S. Highway 160. Extensive quality of water studies ma.de in connection with plans for a Closed Basin drain subsequent to the project authorization have developed sufficient information to indicate that the waters in the suinj:l proper between San Luis Lakes and about 5 miles upstream from Highway 160 are of such low quality as to ma.ke their salvage under the above-quoted provisions of the Rio Grande Compact unfeasible. The studies have also indicated that the best quality ground waters susceptible to salvage lie generally in the area east of the sump drain and that such waters, when combined with salvageable ground waters in the reach between Russell Lakes and the San'Luis Lakes, likely could result in a composite Closed Basin discharge which could comply with the provisions of the Rio Grande Compact. Extensive ground water sampling and pumping tests will be required to reasonably define the areas in which ground waters of satis- factory quality may be obtained and the probable quantity and quality of waters which ma.y be salvaged. However, on the basis of presently avail- able data, the plan of water salvage outlined on the attached Hydrologic Data Map, Drawing No. 253-504-1761, is deemed worthy of detailed investi- gat ion. This plan would discharge from the Closed Basin only the waters i which, cannot be beneficially used within the basin. It would be so J designed and operated as to not adversely effect any existing irrigation . developments. It would salvage the limited surface waters which presently flow into the sump from the west and the north. However, the great ma.jority of the estimated water yield under the plan would result from withdrawal of ground waters along the water salvage channel which presently are non-beneficially consumed by salt grass, chico, and comparable vegeta- tion. The plan would involve the follOWing works: (1) A water salvage channel heading in the vicinity ig( :. i~ ; 3 Russell Lakes and discharging into the Rio Grande near the mouth of La Jara Creek with a lateral or laterals as may be appropriate extending from the vicinity of Highway 160 through the favorable ground water area to the east of the sump. 2