Congressman Salazar fights for San Luis Valley water project

$646,000 will help fix dam safety issue at Platoro Reservoir

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman John Salazar, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, secured $646,000 in federal funding for much needed dam safety upgrades at Platoro Reservoir.  The funding was requested by Congressman Salazar and was included in the 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill. Congressman Salazar sits on the Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee which approved the funding. 

Platoro Reservoir is used for flood control and for re-regulating the flows of the Conejos River for irrigation.  Platoro Reservoir, part of the Bureau’s San Luis Valley Project, is on the Rio Grande Compact Stream.  The reservoir is used by the Conejos Water Conservancy District as well as a large number of hunters, fisherman and recreational enthusiasts.  The Bureau of Reclamation deemed the 8-inch fill piping to be insufficient.  The funds will go towards further inspection and to install a larger bypass system to carry the increased bypass flows. 

On the funding for Platoro Reservoir, Congressman Salazar offered the following statement:

“Platoro Reservoir, built in 1951, can no longer handle our wintertime by-pass flows creating a critical dam safety issue.  This funding will help preserve the life and use of the reservoir for agriculture, flood-control, and recreational use.  I joined the House Appropriations Committee to fight for projects like this – our infrastructure in the West is aging and in dire need of repair.”