WSP05903

• File Number: 8583
• Description: Rio Grande Decision Support System
• State: CO
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Water Division: 3
• Date: 2/1/1998
• Author: Dr. John W. Hernande
• Title: Evaluation Of Salvage Well Production Problems In The Closed Basin Of The San Luis Valley Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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SPECIFIC STUDY OBJECTIVES

Reclamation has asked the NMWRRI to carry out the following tasks as part of its

evaluation of the Project production problems:

1. to review the logs for the salvage wells, to characterize the well logs in a common set
of formation descriptors, to enter the data in an Access data-base, to make the data
available for the preparation off ormation cross-sections, and to use the information in
the analysis of the aquifer characteristics;

2, to process the available data for the Project into a data-base that can be readily used to
evaluate the system;

3, to review the production records, the water quality data, and other information
available in the enhanced data-base of information about the salvage well system;

4, to identify the conditions and factors that may have caused, or contributed to the
problem of production limitations from the shallow groundwater wells;

5, to list possible alternatives to rectify production problems and to provide estimates of
the capital cost and operational costs associated with the various alternatives;

6, to discuss the need to mix water from salvage wells from different areas within the
Project so as to meet Rio Grande Compact limitations on total dissolved solids; and

7, to propose a plan to improve production from the existing well-system,

THE CLOSED BASIN

The Closed Basin is a part of the San Luis Valley and runs for about 40 miles along a

more or less north-south line from its lower end to the north and east of A1amosa, Colorado, A

relatively flat section of the Closed Basin lies to the east of the Denver and Rio Grande Western

Railroad as the tracks go north out of A1amosa, The Closed Basin is bounded on the east and

north by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains; on the northwest by the Las Garitas and the Saguache

Mountains, Runoff into the Basin is from snow-pack and thunder storms on the drainage area

that reaches an elevation of about 10,000 feet or higher in places (Blanca Peak is 14,390 feet),

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