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<br />- 5 - <br /> <br /> <br />nn1~5) <br />UJ.,__~ 1 <br /> <br />On-going Studies <br /> <br />Many different agencies and groups have made and are making water resource <br />studies in the South Platte and Republican River Basins. The Colorado Water <br />Conservation Board is conducting a study to identify alternative uses and <br />combinations of uses for the state's remaining share of the South Platte River <br />water. The Corps of Engineers has just completed the Metropolitan Denver and <br />South Platte River Basin, Colorado Flood Control Study. The Urban Drainage and <br />Flood Control District has a continuing Master Planning Program for Denver. <br />The State of Colorado is developing Phase III of the Colorado State Water Plan. <br />The Bureau of Reclamation is continuing with its Front Range Unit, which is a <br />study of municipal and industrial (M&I) water supply problems in part of the <br />basin. The U. S. Forest Service and the Colorado State Forest Service are <br />currently developing long range plans for multiple use forestry. This planning <br />includes special studies for Wild and Scenic River classification as required <br />by Congress. <br /> <br />A six state study under the leadership of the Economic Development <br />Administration was completed which investigated the extent of groundwater <br />depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer and its impacts upon High Plains agriculture, <br />and made recommendations for action. <br /> <br />Problems and Objectives <br /> <br />The objective of this cooperative study is to address the water resource <br />problems and opportunities found in individual irrigation systems and to <br />develop alternatives that will improve their productivity, water use efficiency <br />and water management. This study objective was agreed upon after meeting with <br />State officials and local leaders. They indicated that while many problems <br />related to water resources exist in the Basin, individual system planning is <br />the most critical need not already studied by other agencies or groups. A <br />literature review indicated that while there are many water resource studies of <br />the basin, none exist that identify the needs of the private irrigation <br />systems. The available information found during the literature review on water <br />use, flooding, erosion, land conversion, the basin river system, etc., was <br />useful in this study. <br /> <br />Most of the surface irrigation systems were developed in the late 1800's. <br />Little change has been made in the systems over time. The useful life of many <br />of the water control structures has expired. Repairs to extend the structures <br />life can be found in many systems. As a general rule the irrigation companies <br />have not invested the funds needed to adequately maintain their systems. , Few <br />companies have a replacement program to update their water control structures. <br />A number of irrigation systems have had storage restrictions placed on them <br />because of dam safety regulations. Water loss from canal seepage is recognized <br />as a problem, but the irrigation companies have been unwilling to invest the <br />large amount of funds needed to line canals. In most areas, the water loss <br />from canal seepage is not a loss to the river system, but it is to the initial <br />water user. Canal conveyance efficiencies range from 47-73% in the basin. <br />