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

Rio Grande Channel Restoration

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The restoration work for the Rio Grande channel would extend
from the Del Norte gaging station, about 6 miles above the
tCMl of Del Norte, to a point 4 miles belo.v the rrouth of the
Canejos River where the Rio Grande enters the basalt-lined
channel at the head of the Rio Grande Gorge. The present
92.4-1Ttiles of sinuous, braided channel would be reduced to
60.7 miles of defined channeL...

The existing Rio Grande Canal diversion works would be utilized
in the plan. Thirteen other major diversion structures would
be replaced with new concrete dams and headworks. Irrigation
service to smaller diversions would be provided through 96
miles of riverside canals which would also act as collection
channels for surface runoff fran minor tributaries and drains.
The riverside canals would require check structures, ditch
turnouts and outlets to the river channeL.. 'Ihe low-flo.v
characteristics would maintain an adequate depth of water
in the restored channel and it would not be necessary to
provide a low-flaw channel for the Rio Grande....

The oost of restoring the Rio Grande channel was estlinated...
to be $8,020,000 and the annual operation, maintenance, and
replacement oosts were estimated... at $120,000. The channel
restoration would result in an average annual reduction of
water losses of 18,800 acre-feet. The project would be
eoonanically feasible with a benefit-oost ratio of 2.70
to 1.0....

Tributary Channel Restoration

Conejos River

'Ihe existing braided length of the Conejos River fran the
MJgote gaging station to its oonfluence with the Rio Grande
would be trodified fran 41. 3 miles to 31. 5 miles....

Four diversion dams would be provided to serve the major
di tches. The smaller ditches would be supplied fran the
riverside canals. The oost of restoring the Canejos River
Channel was estlinated to be $2,859,000....

San Antonio River

'Ihe San Antonio River would require channel restoration from
u. S. Higrway 285 to its confluence with the conejos River.
The existing length of the river is 16 miles, and the restored
channel length would be 15 miles... A sheet pile diversion
dam, with headworks capacity of 100 cubic feet per second,
near Antonito is included... The estimated oost for channel
restoration on the San Antonio River is $1,160,000.

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