WSP10064

• File Number: 8112.600
• Description: Arkansas White Red Basins Interagency Committee - AWRBIAC -- Reports
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 4/1/1977
• Title: Technical Memorandum -- Activity 3 Phase II -- Specific Problem Analysis - 1975 National Assessment -- Arkansas-White-Red Region Part 1 of 2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Financial Issues:

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Increased funding for recreational facilities is needed for
Federal agencies having land management responsibilities. Also,
additional State funding is needed to meet cost-sharing responsi-
bilities for recreation development on water projects. Dependable
and regular Federal and State funding is needed for agricultural
water management and related land use programs.

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3. Hi h Plains Groundwater Irri at ion in ASA 1102 and
ASA 1103 Baca County. The area is that portion of the High
Plains region within the Arkansas River Basin in extreme eastern
Colorado, The region is generally identified by the boundary of
the underlain water bearing, Ogallala formation. The Arkansas
River has eroded below the Ogallala formation and separates what
is classified as the Northern High Plains and the Southern High
Plains. The total area in the Problem Area is 2,102,000 acres.

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The climate and the physical and economic characteristics
of these two areas are identical and shall be treated herein as
one, where appropriate.

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The mean annual precipitation is about 14 inches, with 80%
occurring in the growing season. The mean annual temperature is
66 degrees, mean annual winter temperature is 33 degrees, and the
mean annual temperature is 52 degrees. The main source of income
in the area stems from agricultural activities_ Primarily, corn,
sorghum and winter wheat are grown on irrigated croplands, and
winter wheat, sorghum and dry beans on the non-irrigated croplands.
Forage crops raised on the cropland support extensive stock rais-
ing and feeding operations. It is estimated that the population
is about 6,800.

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The Colorado Groundwater Commission has classified the two
areas in the Problem Area as the Northern High Plains Designated
Basin, and the Southern High Plains Designated Basin. A request
for approval of an appropriation in a Designated Basin must be
filed for approval with the Groundwater Commission, and, if ap-
proved, is given a date of filing the request. The policy of the
Commission is to require all wells to be spaced no closer than
one-half mile, and permitted a rate of withdrawal no greater than
the amount to deplete the available groundwater supply by 40%
over 25 years.

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The Northern High Plains Designated Basin extends over parts
of the eastern portions of Prowers, Kiowa and Cheyenne Counties.
The total area is approximately 336,000 acres, of which 17,800
acres of farmland are irrigated by approved wells, 46,000 acres are
non-irrigated cropland, and 272,000 acres are pasture and range

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