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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SAN LUIS VALLEY IRRIGATICN WATER MANAOO1ENT STUDY

STUDY OBJECTIVES AND METHODS

This study was initiated by an agreement entered into between the
Four Corners Regional Comnission and the Soil Conservation Service
(SCS) effective on March 31, 1969. As required by the agreement,
SCS has su1:mitted to the Comnission a W:>rk Plan Schedule and two
progress reports during the course of the study.

The study was concerned with the follCMing problems, all related
to irrigation and drainage:

1. High water losses due to seepage and deep percolation in the
coarse textured soils.

2. h'ater losses and lCM use efficiencies due to inadequate irri-
gation facilities on off-the-fam i=igation works of irrprove-
ment. These include diversions and canals fram rivers and
streams, water control structures and other major pertinent
irrigation facilities.

3. Areas with high water tables needing drainage.

4. Existing drainage systems needing inprovement, particularly
in the outlet charmels.

5. Need for irrproving overall water supplies to permit rrore
acres to be adequately irrigated.

6. Need for inproving on-the-fam irrigation through leveling,
better i=igation methods, and irrproved facilities.

7. Need to prevent water losses to phreatophytes.

8. Need to salvage water fran tributcu:y streams DON lost by
percolation into deep sandy soils.

9. Need for small water storage reservoirs on tributcu:y streams.

The W:>rk Plan Schedule listed 13 individual items of study. This
report will cover each item individually.

At the beginning of the study, it was decided that the data should
represent what the people of the area want and what they plan to
do with their land and their i=igation and drainage systems.
Most of the study work has been aimed in this direction. The
people, interested agencies and organizations have been informed
of the study and the progress being made. A large part of the data
presented in this report has came fran data sheets filled out by
individual farmers and i=igation and drainage organizations.

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