SPDSS_Task70_Collect Data and Estimate Wildlife Area Use

• Title: SPDSS Task 70 - Collect Data and Estimate Wildlife Area Use
• Description: The objective of Task 70 is to: Collect and review published reports and estimates of water use associated with the creation and maintenance of wildlife and wetland areas in the South Platte and North Platte River Basins. Quantify consumptive use of created and maintained wildlife and wetland areas for the Consumptive Use and Losses Summary Report and Water Budget Model.
• Decision Support - Doc Type: Task Memorandum
• Date: 10/5/2005
• DSS Category: Consumptive Use
• DSS: South Platte
• Basin: South Platte
• Contract/PO #: C153954
• Grant Type: Non-Reimbursable
• Bill Number: SB01-157, HB02-1152, SB03-110, HB04-1221, SB05-084, HB06-1313, SB07-122
• Prepared By: Leonard Rice Eingineering

SPDSS Memorandum
Final
To: Ray Alvarado and Ray Bennett
From: LRE -Duane Herring and Erin Wilson
Subject: Task 70 -Collect Data and Estimate Wildlife Area Use
Date: October 5, 2005
Introduction
Previous CDSS Efforts did not separately address the consumptive use (CU) of water used to
create and maintain wetland and wildlife areas. These areas can have evapotranspiration rates
that fall between those of irrigated land and free surface evaporation, depending on the type of
wildlife area. A more complete understanding of water use in wetland and wildlife areas will be
gained by surveying the application practices of various agencies in the South Platte Basin that
divert water to these areas.
The objective of Task 70 is to:
Collect and review published reports and estimates of water use associated with the creation and
maintenance of wildlife and wetland areas in the South Platte and North Platte River Basins.
Quantify consumptive use of created and maintained wildlife and wetland areas for the
Consumptive Use and Losses Summary Report and Water Budget Model.
Approach and Results
Managers of various wetland and wildlife areas were contacted by phone to provide information
pertaining to the manor in which they manage their water resources. The following organizations
were contacted because of their potential to manage wildlife and/or wetland areas:
• Colorado Division of Wildlife (Personal interview with Grady McNeill)
• Colorado State Park Service
• United States Fish and Wildlife Service
• National Park Service
• United States Department of Agriculture
• Ducks Unlimited
In addition, a literature review was conducted to determine whether any published estimates of
water use in wetland and wildlife areas exist and to locate any GIS data that outlines the extent
and location of these areas in the South Platte and North Platte River Basins. During this
investigation, no published reports were found that identified information that was specific to
wetlands or wildlife areas in the SPDSS study area. GIS data were gathered from two locations:
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