WSP07035

• File Number: 8509
• Description: San Luis Valley
• State: CO
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Water Division: 3
• Date: 12/1/1969
• Title: Irrigation Water Management Study of the San Luis Valley Colorado - PART 1 of 2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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The results are good =op production in part of the area,
but waterlogging and high nonbeneficial consumptive use of
water in rrost of the area. Furthennore the soils in SOll'e
areas have become alkaline and the ground-water has became
highly mineralized because of the concentration of salts
by evapotranspiration. A major part of the valley south
and west of Alarrosa likewise is waterlogged, suffering
fran an abundance of water and poor drainage."

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Water loss to phreatophytes is high in p:>orly drained portions and
along sane irrigation canals. (Phreatophytes are discussed under
Study Item 10.) Irrproved drainage systems with adequate outlets
and water level control facilities would benefit large areas in
the Valley. (This need is discussed under Study Items 5 and 6.)

PR03RAM OF STUDY - STUDY ITEMS

This part of the report covers each of the 13 individual items of
study listed in the agreement between SCS and the Four Corners
Regional Corrmission. These items were included in a work schedule
plan prepared April 9, 1969 as required by the agreerrent and have
been follCMed throughout the study.

Data for study i tens 1 through 4 were collected fran data sheets
prepared by individual i=igation ditch and drainage organizations
on a voluntary basis. Of 755 i=igation systems in the study area,
155 returned corrg:>leted data sheets. The 155 responses represent
69 percent of the water delivered fran stream rights in the study
area in 1968. No attenpt was made to expand the data for the
i=igation systems which did not return data sheets. The figures,
therefore, represent finn, anticipated work. The sUj:porting data
sheets were assigned index numbers and are on file in the SCS
office in M::>nte Vista, Colorado. All costs shewn in this report
and in the tables are estimates based on present prices.

STUDY ITEM 1 - INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY OF COMBINING IRRIGA.TICN
CANAIS AND SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY THOSE CANAlS WHICH SHOULD BE
COMBINED.

Table 1 lists six groups of canal systems, pJrtions of which could
be physically <Xl1lbined to save water. (Map-3, I=igation Canals
that Should be CorrtJined, ShCMS their locations.) Interest is
particularly high for canbining sections of the Morganville,
Flintham, and Scandinavian ditches. While it is physically
possible to combine sections of many other canal systems, they
have not been listed due to lack of interest and opposition on
the part of the canal ewners.

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