WSP11584

• File Number: 8281.600
• Description: Colorado River Studies and Investigations -- Mesa-Delta M&I Groundwater Study
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 11/21/1984
• Author: DOI/BOR
• Title: Notice of Initiation of Investigations-- Mesa-Delta M&I Ground Water Study
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Project Overview

o
':~J
,.;:)
Ut
O"J
....:I

!J~!iJ1J

o{c ~J(~

(,'0. :J 19p
C'O;lIc,~O~,AD. 0'1
'0(;/;>//' '0
117;',> If"!,.,,
'-'/fie "'Ii'
Location of Investigation: The study area is located in the Upper Colorado '04~D
River Basin in west-central Colorado including portions of Mesa and Delta
counties. The study will focus on an 11,000-foot basalt-capped plateau called
the Grand Mesa. The surrounding valleys formed by the Colorado and Gunnison
Rivers are also w~thin the study area.

.

UNITED STATES .
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
UPPER COLORADO REGION

Name of Investigation:

Mesa-Delta M&I Ground Water Study

NOTICE OF INITIATION OF INVESTIGATIONS

Date Investigation Initiated: Investigation will be initiated in fiscal year
1985. The study will culminate in September of 1988 with a Special Report
which will present findings and recommendations,

1. Scope of Investigation: The primary purpose of the study is to verify
the existence of a ground-water supply believed to be available in the
basalt cap of Grand Mesa and to identify at least one alternative for
development of the resource to increase municipal and industrial (M&I) water
supplies for communities in the valleys.

2. Problem:. Population and growth studies conducted for the Dominguez
Reservoir Project indicate an annual M&I water shortage of 21,000 acre-feet
for the Grand Valley area by the year 2020. Annual M&I water shortages for
the North Fork Valley of 5,500 acre-feet have been estimated for the same time
frame. In addition, water qualities are seasonally poor in the Grand Junction
and Clifton systems which obtain a portion of their raw water directly from
the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers in drought years.

3. Prospective Solutions: The U,S. Geological Survey has estimated that
between 500,000 and 700,000 acre-feet of ground water may be in storage in
the basalt cap of Grand Mesa. Therefore, an opportunity may exist to manage
the basalt aquifer as a ground water reservoir due to the anticipated high
recharge rates supported by 30 to 35 inches of annual average precipitation.
Opportunities for hydroelectric power generation from this potential ground-
water source would also be explored due to the large elevation difference
between the top of Grand Mesa and the population centers in the valleys.

4. Participation: The investigation is being conducted in close cooperation
with the State of Colorado Department of Natural Resources and other state
and local study sponsors. Other interested parties are requested' to submit
an expression of interest in the investigation within 30 days, to inform
Reclamation of pertinent data that can be made available for use by the study
team, and to furnish comments and suggestions.

Expressions of interest should be sent to the Projects Manager, Grand Junction
Projects Office, P,O. Box 1889, Grand Junction, Colorado 81502.

Prepared:

November 21, 1984

Transmitted: November 23, 1984

~.7~ JJt -' 114-2

Reg nal Planning Officer -

;:~/~~./
..-..,./ .,:,/. / -,,-~ .
~,/' . ,
. G \'
rp;c;l\~' Regiono/'Director