The declines of water levels in the valley support the theory of disappearing wetlands, not unlike the extinction of wetland habitat in Florida. Florida is a much more humid and water rich area than Colorado. If wetland desiccation can occur there, then pumping, and salvaged evapotranspiration will be detrimental to wetland habitat in the San Luis Valley. The potentially most detrimental issue to wetlands, and the most pressing issue in the San Luis Valley now is the rate of evapotranspiration. Water conservation and purity issues are important to the public and the government for use of human consumption.
Little thought is given to water conservation for wetland habitats and ecosystem.
Based on water level declines and soil depletion I believe that pumping may have dried up past wetlands. The main wetland in the San Luis Valley is a government protected wildlife preserve. Alamosa-Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge provides habitat and home for many species of plats and birds. However, it receives irrigated water to ensure its supply of water annually. The fact that irrigation is necessary for an effective wetland area in the San Luis Valley suggests that water levels in wetlands, as well as the wetlands themselves, have been significantly altered by ground water pumping.