Arkansas - Upper Big Sandy Water Balance_Water Activity Summary

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Water Supply Reserve Account – Grant and Loan Program Water Activity Summary Sheet Applicant : Amount Requested: Upper Big Sandy Ground Water $ 45,000 Management District Water Activity Name: Source of Funds: Upper Big Sandy Water Arkansas B asin Account Balance Water Activity Purpose : Analysis of consumptive and nonconsumptive water activity Matching Funds: $5,000 from the District County: Elbert, Lincoln, and El Paso Drainage Basin: Arkansas Water Source: Upper Big Sandy designated g roundwater basin Water Activity Summary : The Upper Big Sandy Ground Water Management District (District) was formed on October 22, 1976. The purpose of the District is to manage the ground water resources within the Upper Big Sandy Ground Water Basin to ensure the ground water is available for at least 100 years. The Basin includes all or portions of El Paso, Elbert, and Lincoln counties in eastern Colorado. The towns of Limon, Matheson, and Simla use the alluvial water as their main source of municipa l water supply and Calhan uses the shallow water as a supplemental supply. Farmers and ranches in the region use the shallow water for domestic purposes, irrigation, and stock watering. The District makes recommendations to the State Engineer’s Office on the approval of new ground water well permits, and the District is responsible for planning for the current and future use of the alluvial ground water. Overview of the Water Activity The purpose of this project is to assist the District by quantifying t he use and supply of alluvial ground water within the Basin and to create a water balance of the Basin to assist the District in developing long - term management policies for the ground water resources within the Basin, especially in regard to well pumping and maximum levels of pumping (safe yield) that can reliably be sustained within the District. The District has a goal of establishing and maintaining sustainable management of the ground water resources of the Basin. The Water Balance will provide the District with a technical basis upon which they can approve or deny new ground water well permits, and therefore allow the District to plan for the current and future use of the alluvial ground water. Additionally, this project could lead to a dynamic gro und water model that would allow additional planning for the future including periods of sustained drought. The water balance project includes three major tasks: 1. Field Work - Task will include the advancement of multiple test holes and ground water monito ring wells in order to obtain detailed site - specific geological logs and water level data, and testing of the monitoring wells to calculate site - specific hydraulic parameters. 2. Member Survey - Task will include collection of additional data from District me mbers. Data needs include precipitation data, stream flow observations, well measurements, stock watering, and short - term water storage. 1