WSP05769

• File Number: 8543.200
• Description: Projects in the Closed Basin
• State: CO
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Water Division: 3
• Date: 12/9/1960
• Title: Report on the fish and wildlife resources of the Closed Basin Division
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

3

At Colorado Highway No. 17, the main channel will have a capacity
of 46 second-feet, a velocity of 1.63 feet per second, a .bottom
width of 7.0 feet, and amaxfmwn water depth of 2.4 feet, The
capac:itywlll gradually increase in accordance with the sources
of water. Near San Luis Lake, the channel will have a capacity
of 217 second-feet, a velocity of 1.54 feet per second, a bottom
width of 16.0 feet, and a .maximum water depth of 5,3 feet. These
capacities will provide for minor peaking of the well discharge
and peaking of drain and flood flows.

Temperature of pumped ground water has been tested at 520 F.
Cold nights throughout the year will prevent appreciable warming
of thesalvage<jwater, and I t Is estimated that maximum tempera-
tures In the main channel wi II be about 620 F. Ponded or Impound-
edwater In San Luis Lake probably will reach a maxim\.llllof ]20 F.
on a few days each year,

Historically, the water surface of San Luis Lake has varied con-
siderably due to drought, With an equalizing channel constructed
between the lake and the main channel, the water surface of San
Luis Lake will be controlled by the water-surface elevation In the
main channel, At normal discharge of water from the well field
Into the main channel, SCln Luis Lake wi II have a surface area of
about 860 acres, For brief periods of time when the main channel
will be f lowl ng at maximum des I gn capaci ty, the water-surface e le-
vatlon will Increase about 1.8 feet and the area of San Luis Lake
wi II increase .to 900 acres.

Without the Prolect

Due to its fluctuating water level, San Luis Lake provides fishing
of only ,mediocre quality. In Its present condition, the lake can
be expected to support .fishlng resulting In annual expenditures of
$9,000,

From the mouth of La Jara Creek to the Colorado-New Kexlco State
line, the Rio Grande I sa poor trout stream. Upstream diversions
seriously dewater the stream during the summer months. Without the
project, fishing .on this 22-mlle reach can be expected to result In
annual expenditures of $12.500.

C~:,>~,..J In New Mexico the 76 miles of the Rio Grande from the State line to
the mouth of the Rio Chamagenerally are fished quite heavily despite
the fact that much of the stream Is Inaccessible due to steep canyon
walls or the Jack of roads, Only the first 24 miles of stream are
not Intensively used. In that area, Inaccesslbi Iity combined with
low streamflows aetas a deterrent to fishing. The remaining 52-
mile reach receives accretions of water and is good .quallty trout
habitat, Fishing on the 76 miles of the Rio Grande within New Mexico
Is expected to result In average annual total expenditures of about
$190,000.