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<br />40 <br /> <br /> <br />The information shown on Table 4 presents an analysis of <br />basin water use with various developments. An examination of <br />the historic water supply reveals that the measured surface flows <br />contributed to the main river valley area have averaged 530',000 <br />acre-feet for the 6-year period 1952-l957. This quantity includes <br />the measured outflow from the main tributary streams; Clear Creek, <br />Big Thompson River, St. Vrain River, and the Cache la Poudre River, <br />as well as the measured flow of tfle main stem South Platte River <br />at Denver and metropolitan area sewage return flows. The measUred <br />surface flows are augmented by an unmeasured surface and subsurface <br />, supply estimated to average 200,000 acre-feet per year. The values <br />on line 3 represent the total water supply available to the main <br />ri ver area. They are the total of values shown on lines 1 and 2. <br />The increased gravity supplies shown under Study E and F conditions <br />reflects evaporation savings from abandoned off-channel reservoirs <br />plus elimination of consumptive uses by lands inundated in the <br />potential reservoir areas. In Study G conditions (1990 without <br />project) the total gravity supply is increased by 190,000 acre- <br />feet per year (720-530). Of this increase 160,000 acre-feet is <br />attributed to increased sewage return flow and 30,000 acre-feet <br />to full operation of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. <br /> <br />The results of our ground water studies for the South Platte <br />Basin are shown on line 4. The value on the top of the slash is <br />the calculated average quantity of water that was actually pumped. <br />The value underneath the slash is the calculated quantity of water <br />that would have to be diverted from the river to provide an <br />equivalent supply at the farm headgate or at the pump site. For <br />example, under Study A conditions, it would be necessary to divert <br />520,000 acre-feet of water at the river to provide the same supply <br />to the crops as might be obtained by pumping 300,000 acre-feet. <br />Under historic conditkns the equivalent pump supply is nearly <br />equal to the measured gravity supply. Under 1990 conditions the <br />pump supply is about two-thirds of the gravity supply since the <br />gravity supply increases and the pumping level diminishes. These <br />values clearly indicate the importance of ground water pumping for <br />irrigation in the main stem South Platte River Valley Basin. <br /> <br />The values shown on lines 5 through 9 summarize the results <br />of the water utilization studies made for each of the plans studied., <br />There is little difference in remaining river diversion shortages <br />(line 8) between comparable plans. For example, under Study J <br />conditions the remaining shortage with Weld County Reservoir would <br />be 147,000 acre-feet per year while the comparable shortage with <br />Narrows Reservoir (Study K) would be 156,000 acre-feet per year. <br />Either reservoir provides a facility for greatly enhancing the <br />use of the basin water supply (the calculated shortage under <br />without project conditions is 310,000 acre-feet). <br />