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<br />OGH8~ <br /> <br />13. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />-, <br /> <br />Near Alamosa the river sweeps in a wide bend into a southerly <br />direction. Below this bend, Alamosa, La Jara, Trinchero, Conejos and <br />Culebra Creeks enter in that order. These creeks contain sizeable <br />base flows all appropriated. Within this large area both sub and surface- <br />irrigation is practiced. There are many irrigation wells within the <br />drainage boundaries of the first 3 mentioned creeks. The picture is very <br />confused as to what their effect might be on stream flow. Any boundaries <br />would have to be set after mature consideration. The Rio Grande does <br />not contain return flow in all its length. In some reaches, it is a losing <br />stream at times. Such a condition might have some local bearing on <br />boundaries. <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />As of now, there are 1425 pumps being served electrically. <br />There are several hundred more operated by engines. A rather large <br />number of the pump s are installed on artesian wells. The power load <br />for the valley varies tremendously with the water supply. In one instance <br />. it dropped from 42,000,000 Kw. hr. to 5,000,000 Kw. hr. in one"year. <br /> <br />Artesian wells are a common sight in the valley. There are some <br />7,000 of them. Before 1930 they were used mostly for domestic and stock <br />purposes. Since then and particularly within the last 10 years there have <br />been many large diameter deep wells drilled. Some have flowed as mud, <br />as 1,000 g. p. m. at the surface while others have been pumped at a rate <br />of over 2,000 g.p.m. The drilling of these deep wells into artesian <br />pressure zones has caused some concern throughout the valley. Aside <br />from causing local pressure disturbances, probably the greatest cone ern <br />was over improper construction procedures. The most pressure that <br />resulted in the legislative act of 1955 came from this valley. <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />- 13 - <br />