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<br />- ........v <br /> <br />LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL <br /> <br />XVII <br /> <br />the so-called coordinated plan, in mnny respects, are in direct com- <br />petition with t.lIe reservoirs authorized as a part of the San Luis Valley <br />project. If the proposed reservoirs fOI' the ~Iiddle Rio Grande project <br />were operated in accordanco with the suggestion of the Corps of <br />Engineers, direct compet.itiou would result bet\,,'een those reservoirs <br />and the San Luis V ullc.y projeet. reservoir!:' for the water which othe.r- <br />wise would spill fwm Elephunt Bu t.te and Cahallo Resermirs. This <br />would ad\'crsclv affect the ltllthol'i7.cd Sun Luis Valley projeet in <br />Colorudo nnd \\~ollld afford no COmpeIl.3utory benefit to New l\,.lexico. <br />\ The I'eports seem to indicate (possibly erroneously) that even with <br />the project operated for flood control nlone the amollnt of water <br />.wailahle for use by the Snn Luis Vnlley project at the end of the <br />study period, whieh was llsed to just.ify t,}w authorization of the <br />Middle Rio Gruude project, would be about 200,000 acre-feet less <br />than would be ayailnble if the IVliddle Rio Grande project, as proposed <br />were not, on the strenm. <br />8. The Corps of Engineers in their report outline in considerable <br />detail power deyelopment which might become fen sible at the Chifto <br />anti Chamitu. Resen"oir sites, the mnjor port,ion of sueh powcr devel- <br />opment heing nt t,he Chifto si to., Should the projcct be operated for <br />the generation of hydroelect.ric energy. the adverse effect 011 the water <br />supply for the Snn Luis Valley projeet in Colorado would be lllaterial <br />becHlIse of the required hal(tover stoI'Uge in the reservoirs. Colorado <br />concludes that power development is not feasible from the standpoint <br />of water sllpply, nor wOHld it be economically feasible even if the <br />project could he operated free of t.he compact in such n way as to <br />generate the amount, of eIlergy estimated hy the Corps of Engineers. <br />O. The seriousness of t,he problem confront.iug New .fiJexico and <br />the Middle Rio Grnnde project is such t.llllt it is regrettable that <br />aetunl commencement of work for t,he rehnbilitntion of the area has <br />been too long dehlyed, <br />10. Because of t.he seriollsness of t.he New lVIexico situation, it is <br />recommended that, except for the Chiflo Resen'oir, the units of the <br />proposed plan be authorized upon the following eondit,ions: <br />(1) Restudy to be made of the required capacity of the Chamita <br />Reservoir to determine the most economic ct1pncit,y. <br />(2) As soon as the drains of the Middle Rio Grande project are <br />rehnbilitated, an outlet to the riyer he afforded by pumps for ,those <br />drains requiring it. The pumps would operat.e during the interim <br />period before the riyer bed becomes de!;raded, <br />(~) The mnintenunee of the leyee systems during the period when <br />the flood releases arc being used to degrade the river be un obligation <br />of the Federal Government. <br />(4) The two agencies and the three States ngree on operating rules. <br /> <br />DETAIL vu~ws AND RECOMMENDATIONS <br /> <br />Gemral <br />The re.ports of the two ngcncies contain an excellent description of <br />the Upper Rio Grunde Basin, However, it appears desimble to am- <br />plify such descript.ion in order to permit an objective view of: (1) the <br />mngnitude of the development in Colorado that will benefit from the <br />Sun Luis Valley project, (2) the maf,'l1itude of the ngricultural devel- <br />opment, III New Mexico that will benefit by the proposed Middle Rio <br />Grande project, (3) the benefits that will accrue to the New Mexico <br />92156-49--2 <br />