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<br />, <br />(,\1 <br />';'..} <br />,'") <br />..-I <br /> <br />2. Construct the Closed Basin project and use a part <br />of the water available from that project to main- <br />tain a debit free status on an annual basis. <br /> <br />, ~ ,I <br /> <br />(-. <br />_.J <br /> <br />The adoption of the first method would cause some economic <br />loss in the San Luis valley. The adoption of the second method <br />would both preserve the e"isting economy of the valley and improve <br />the economy by m~,ing additional water supplies available for use <br />in Colorado. The State of Colorado has expended a considerable <br />sum of money in attempting to solve the problems of the San Luis <br />Valley and has previously recommended the construction of the Closed <br />Basin Division, San Luis Valley project. Our official comments on <br />the project were submitted to the secretary of the Interior under <br />date of May 5, 1965, a copy of which is enclosed herewith. These <br />comments were approved by the San Luis Valley Water Conservancy <br />District and the Conejos Water Conservancy District. In view of <br />the pressing situation now existing there appears to be little <br />e:ccuse for further delay in attempting to get the project author- <br />ized. <br /> <br />In addition to the many years of effort and considerable <br />sums of money e"pended by this Board in an attempt to solve the <br />water problems in the San Luis valley, the more recent activities <br />are as follo\~s: <br /> <br />1. Investiqations by the united states Geoloqical Survey. <br /> <br />Beginning last year the State of colorado, through this <br />Board, entered into a contract with the united states Geological <br />survey for a program designed to determine the e"tent, availabil- <br />ity and characteristics of the ground water supply in the San Luis <br />valley. While \'le believe that the increased ground water \'lith- <br />drawals in the valley since World Nar II have been responsible' in <br />part for our failure to deliver sufficient water pursuant to the <br />terms of the Rio Grande Compact, we do not have sufficient informa- <br />tion upon which to base an intelligent use of the ground water <br />resources. Under the terms of our arrangements \~i th the Geologi- <br />cal Survey we expect that an electric analog model of the valley <br />will be constructed to assist in developing better management <br />practices. The investigations now being carried on by the Geologi- <br />cal Survey will take at least five years and will involve a <br />monetary expenditure of approximately $500,000, of which 500/. will <br />be contributed by the State of Colorado. <br /> <br />2. The employment of a resident engineer. <br /> <br />On January 1, 1967, an additional engineer was added to <br /> <br />Memo <br /> <br />-2- <br /> <br />August 25, 1967 <br />