PROJ02181

• Contract/PO #: FS0014X
• Contractor Name: Southern High Plains Ground Water Management DistrictSouthern High Plains Ground Water Management Di
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 0
• County: Baca
• County: Prowers
• County: Las Animas
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Report

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2.0 INTRODUCTION

2.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This report presents the findings of a Phase-1 study of the ground-water resources in the
Southern High Plains Designated Ground Water Basin (Basin), for the Southern High
Plains Ground Water Management District (District). The Basin is located in
southeastern Colorado below the Arkansas River Basin and encompasses portions of
Prowers, Baca, and Las Animas counties in Colorado. The study was commissioned by
the District in January, 2000, and funded by the Colorado Water Conservation Board.
This study is the first phase of an overall assessment of the District's use and supply of
ground water

The principal objectives of this study were to: (1) develop a conceptual model of the
aquifer system underlying the Basin; (2) quantify the available ground-water resources in
the District; and (3) define the historical and present use of ground water in the District.
Specific goals to be accomplished by the Phase-1 study are listed below:

1. Confirm the accuracy of the State Engineer's Office well data base with
respect to the District.
2. Determine the thickness of the aquifers present (tops and bottoms of
formations) and the corresponding intervals of screened perforations to
delineate the source aquifers(s) of each well.
3. Confirm the distribution of the District's monitor wells is adequate to obtain
accurate water levels in the aquifers of the District.
4. Identify areas of concentrated agricultural development within the District that
may benefit from additional management.
5. Quantify actual water use in the District to predict future water-level declines.
6. Verify, as much as possible, the hydraulic connection between the main
aquifers to quantify the migration of water between the aquifers.
7. Estimate demand for future use of water in the District.
8. Identify sites of water quality contamination for future mitigation.

The information gained from achieving these goals is to be used to accomplish the
following major tasks for the District:

1. Update the associated information in the Beck Report that was not addressed
in the feasibility report.

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