Closed Basin Project

The Closed Basin Project is a water management system in the San Luis Valley that extracts groundwater through a network of wells and pipelines. The facility includes more than 115 miles of pipeline infrastructure spreading across the valley to transport water from natural underground sources to distribution points.

The project was established in 1972 by the US Bureau of Reclamation to fulfill obligations from the Rio Grande Compact of 1939. This agreement regulated water distribution among multiple states and made artificial groundwater extraction necessary.

The agricultural community in San Luis Valley relies on water distribution from the project for sustainable farming and economic development.

The project is monitored from a control center in Alamosa, where water quality is checked and flow is regulated through remote communication systems. Visitors should know that the facility spreads across a large area and cannot be fully explored on foot.

The zone encompasses approximately 2,940 square miles where water naturally percolates and collects without surface drainage outlets. This unique geological feature of the closed basin area is why mechanical pumping is required to make water available for use.

Location: Colorado

GPS coordinates: 37.54950,-105.67400

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:41