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, . Bill Calls._or .ExpansionOf . . Closed . Bash1 /J!r . IJPIf ~ 9 C'01\-: <'uL. . l.gee SCI)>~0. ".. - "1"10.// "',y SO-4I)>/J . Colorado senators Gary Hart and William ~trong and Rep. Rey Kogovsek have Intr~uced legislation to allow redesilll1 of the' 'Closed Basin Project near A1amosa to In- crease Its ability to provide water for the area. The lawmakers say the project, which !salready under constrUction, needs to be Increased In size by about one-third. That will raise the project's eventual iota! cost to $57 million, above its original authorization level of $I~ million. Congressional approval Is needed before the project can be expanded. "The Closed Basin Project will help fulfill Colorado's obligation to New Mexico from the Rio Grande," said Hart. ' "Without it COlorado would have to cut back on existing use of water in the Rio Grande to meet its obllgation to New Mexico." Said Armstrong, "It is critical that Colorado maximize the use of its water. I'm pleased that the. Colorado delegation is working together for the redesilll1 of the Closed Basin . Project. " "If we complete the Closed Basin project on schedule, It will take care of the past problems we have had with compact commlttments for many years to come," said Kogovsek. . "That means better crop production In the San LuIs Valley, because the alkaline levels will drop as. the water table drops. ... The project ls known as the "Closed Basin" becauSe it augments the now of the Rio Grande by transferring from a nearby WJderground basin !Vhere water gets trapped above Impermeable rock. The water In that basin Is not now being put to any beneficial use. Hart said Congress must approve the new' contruction design and authorization level as soon as possible to avoid any delays in construction next year. The Wat~r and Power Resources Service has agreed to a request by the Colorado delegation to avoid any steps in its Construction this year which would preclude its expansion of the project next year. Said Hart, "Any further delays in construction will in- crease the final COllt of the project." He said he has urged the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to con- sider the blU as soon as possible. The bill also makes clear that all existing water rights are protected. The project's authorization already includes a provision insuring that the diversion of underground water from the basin will not cause the water level to existing wells to drop more than two feet. The bill makes it clear that the protection applies to all I wells UU"oughout the basin, not just those within the project's actual boundaries. [/.1.1 IILtyl: ~tL-r/~.-.- - ~<t':/ A /, J~3o ..' }' ;9.' ' ., ., .t'0i..-' .... 411