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<br /> <br />Rito Seco FER 2 <br />Of the 3,200 total population in Costilla County, persons of Spanish <br />origin or descent comprise 1,148 and those persons of Spanish language <br />make up 2,341 (73$) of the total population. From 1960 to 197; the <br />population has decreased by 24 percent (4,219-3,200). I/ <br />Costilla County provides adequate educational opportunities; however, <br />the drop-out rate is very high. Persons completing high school in <br />Costilla County is 39 percent as compared to a state completion rate of <br />72 percent (1970). <br />Costilla County had median family incomes of $4,401 in 1970 while the <br />State of Colorado median family income was $9.555• Persons receiving <br />welfare benefits in December 1972 made up 42.8 percent of the popula- <br />tion. Costilla County ranks first in Colorado as to the percentage of <br />residents receiving public assistance. <br />There are two medical doctors located in Costilla County. The :ounty <br />also has one emergency medical technician. <br />Watershed Problems and Needs <br />Floodwaters from Rito Seco Creek can damage 181 homes, 15 trailers, 25 <br />businesses, 4 schools, 3 churches and 6 public buildings in [he town of <br />San Luis. In addition, floodwaters damage agricultural crops and cause <br />interruption of irrigation activities on one major canal. The =1ood- <br />waters have caused erosion in the upper areas of the watershed which has <br />created about 31 critical areas. Some of the critical areas ha~re damaged <br />or threaten to damage roads. The critical areas are about 400 '~eet long <br />and 50 feet wide. Sediment from these critical areas have been ~~ashed <br />onto the agricultural crops and has also filled the channel where the <br />capacity has been reduced by about 50 percent. <br />There is a need in this watershed for measures to prevent flooding in <br />and around San Luis. Treatment of the 31 critical areas will bc: required <br />before an effective solution to the total problem can be found. <br />Alternative Solutions <br />Three alternatives that will alleviate the flooding and erosion problems <br />were investigated. Alternative N1, a reservoir on Rito Seco Creek near <br />the canyon mouth; Alternative ~2, a diversion dike around San L115 and <br />treatment of approximately 31 critically eroded areas, [See Figures 1, <br />2, and 3] and Alternative ~3, a floodway and treatment of approximately <br />31 critically eroding areas. Alternatives 2 and 3 will provide a 100- <br />year level of protection. (See Figures 3, 4, and 5]. <br />1 Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 1970 Census of Population. <br />