17F

• Board Meeting Date: 11/18/2007
• Description: CF Section – Bundled Non-Reimbursable Investments - Lower Lost Creek Aquifer Storage and Recharge Evaluation
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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17F
` STATE OF COLORADO
Colorado Water Conservation Board ,~'~ ° ` =` ,
Department of Natural Resources ~ ~!-~~~ ~ ~ ~ ' ~~'~,
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203 ~~ '~
Phone: [phone]
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FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us
MEMORANDUM Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
Harris D. Sherman
To: Colorado Water Conservation Board Members Executive Director
Dan McAuliffe
From: Andy Moore cwcB Acting
Director
Date: September 5, 2007
Re: Non-Reimbursable Investments -Lower Lost Creek Aquifer Storage and Recharge Evaluation
Introduction
This request for funding is from the Colorado Geological Survey (CGS) to perform arl evaluation of
aquifer storage and recharge in the Lower Lost Creek Aquifer. .For FY 07-08, an appropriation of
$48,200 is being sought from the Construction Fund to perform the study. The total study cost is
$128,200.
Discussion
A key conclusion in the Statewide Water Supply Initiative is the need for additional storage to meet future
water supply demands in a sustainable manner. Storing water underground in aquifers is one of the
storage options available. The attractiveness of this option was recognized in the passage of'Senate Bill
06-193, which directed the CWCB to conduct a study of potential underground water storage areas in the
South Platte and Arkansas River Basins. The basis of that study was the 2004 CGS report ",Artificial
Recharge of Ground Water in Colorado-A Statewide Assessment." In the SB06-193 report, the Lower
Lost Creek subregion was scored the highest as a candidate for potential underground storage.
The objective of this project is to facilitate solutions to regional water supply issues by identifying
potential sites or pilot prof ects for aquifer recharge and storage within the :Lower Lost Creek subregion.
This will be accomplished by evaluating and refining the existing knowledge of the hydroge;ology of the
Lost Creek alluvial aquifer system in the northern portion of the Lost Creek Designated Basin. (Note that
this portion of the Designated Basin is not within the Lost Creek Ground Water Management District.)
Geographic, geologic, hydrologic, infrastructure, and water quality data will be collected and analyzed to
evaluate the recharge potential, storage capacity, and water quality impacts in the study area.. The goal of
the data collection and analysis will be to aid in identifying select sites or areas for potential pilot project
implementation. The estimated cost for completing this study is $128,200. CGS is requesting $48,200 in
this application. The remaining $80,000 will be requested from the South Platte River Basin. and Metro
IBCC Roundtables in the form of grants from the Water Supply Reserve Account.
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Flood Protection • Water Supply Planning and Finance • Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection • Conservation and Drought Planning