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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I water-table conditions prevail. Water levels in the Dockum aquifer beyond the southeast corner of the Basin are not known at the present time. Additional monitoring wells are needed to better define water-level changes in the District. 5. This report estimates the economically recoverable ground-water resources at about 31,748,000 acre-feet. At current withdrawal rates of 220,000 acre-feet annually, the ground-water reserves are estimated to have an economically life expectancy of 50 years for the High PlainslDakota system and 150 years for the High Plains/Dockum system. 6. Most ground-water recharge is from precipitation and irrigation returns. 7. Most of the existing monitor well records have limited completion information. Identification of monitored hydrostratigraphic intervals in the Basin and the overall distribution is inadequate. Several new monitoring wells are needed and should include existing wells in unmonitored areas and new-dedicated wells. These newly dedicated wells should be drilled exclusively for monitoring and testing the ground water. Several of the wells being monitored for the District are located outside of the Basin. Monitoring of these wells could be discontinued for District purposes. 8. A further investigation of abandoned wells is needed to confirm the proper plugging of abandoned and replaced wells. 9. The District Board should consider requiring metering of all ground-water usage in the District. 10. The District Board should require geophysical and geologicllithologic logging of any new wells drilled in the District. 11. The District Board should request the Colorado State Engineer's Office to issue a moratorium for a definite period to be determined by the Board on all new water well permits and adding additional acreage to existing wells in the District until new management rules are established. 1-2