BOARD00151 ‎(3)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 3/12/2007
• Description: WSP Section - Animas-La Plata Project Updates - Intergovernmental Agreement Establishing the ALP Operations and Maintenance Association and Proposed Concept Paper
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Amount of Request:

$153,000

Ranking:

Medium

Product Produced: The purpose of this project is to quantify the use and supply of groundwater
and create a water balance for the Upper Big Sandy Designated Ground Water Basin (Basin) to
assist the District in developing long-term management policies for the groundwater resources
within the Basin, especially in regard to well pumping and maximum levels of pumping that can be
reliably sustained within the District.

Water Planning Relationship: This project will help the District m managmg the Basin's
groundwater resources in a sustainable manner.

Recommendation: Staff gives a medium recommendation to funding of this project because of its
importance in water planning efforts.

3. Monitoring Deep Percolation Beneath Irrigated Fields

Beneficiary /Gra ntee/Contractor:
Amount of Request:

USGS, Various
$97,500

Ranking:

Low

Product Produced: The proposed study will estimate irrigation recharge at two sites, which would
be established in irrigated fields overlying shallow, alluvial aquifers in Colorado. Two methods will
be used at each site to estimate recharge, by monitoring water table fluctuations and moisture
movement in the unsaturated zone. The results will be compared to traditional water-budget methods
based on calculating crop consumptive use.

Water Planning Relationship: Study results would have applicability to other areas of
Colorado having similar hydrogeologic conditions and irrigation methods to those of the study sites,
and would thereby assist farmers, water districts and others in the understanding of irrigation return
flows.

Recommendation: Staff gives a low recommendation to funding of this project due to the
duplication of similar projects currently being funded.

4. Enhancing Natural Recharge to Groundwater In Mountainous Regions of Colorado

Beneficiary/Grantee/Contractor: Clear Creek County, Various
Amount of Request: $50,000

Ranking:

Medium

Product Produced: The purposes of this project are to develop guidelines for new and existing
development, to provide better knowledge regarding the relationships between surface water
development and tributary groundwater resources, to develop a locally adopted Water Conservation
Plan, and to educate water users and provide public outreach.

Water Planning Relationship: This project would assist Clear Creek County in the better
management of its groundwater resources, which is an important issue for other mountainous areas
in the state.

Recommendation: Staff gives a medium recommendation to funding for this program since it
will benefit local water planners as funding becomes available.

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