RGDSS_Feasibility - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

2.0 NEEDS ASSESSMENT In order to accurately state the purposes for a decision support system (DSS), the needs of the potential users of the system must first be identified. Information for assessing these needs was collected through interviews with state and federal personnel with knowledge and interest in the basin, as well as with water users and individuals interested in the basin. The comments of those interviewed were collected using a comment sheet developed in coordination with the State management team. The consultant team interviewed 16 individuals in person or in meetings and another 15 individuals through telephone calls. These comments are summarized below. Experience gained from the design, construction, and use of the Colorado River Decision Support System (CROSS) was also drawn upon during this needs analysis process. 2.1 Summarized Needs After consulting with the State management team, a set of issue categories was formulated that cover the major issue areas identified during the interviews: (1) Additional Data Collection (2) Surface Water Issues (3) Water Rights Administration (4) Interstate Compact Issues (5) Ground Water Issues (6) Streamflow Forecasting (7) Water Budget (8) DSS Design (9) Documentation The following sections list each individual issue under one of the categories. (1) Additional Data Collection: • Need a commitment to a program of long-term surface and ground water data collection • Need additional monitoring wells (both confined and unconfined aquifers) • Need to continuously record well head and water levels in confined and unconfined aquifers • Need to monitor flows from key springs, particularly along the Conejos River • Need records of ground water pumping (for both confined and unconfined aquifers) • Need data on recharge to confined and unconfined aquifers, especially from the San Juan Mountains • Need data on aquitard compressibility in the confined aquifer • Need data on iron bacteria to determine if the bacteria is native or imported to the aquifers • Need additional stream gages to determine rim inflow to the Closed Basin and tributary inflow and returns to the major rivers • Need to perform continuous gain-loss studies on key streams • Need to collect additional representative weather data to accurately estimate evapotranspiration (air temperature, solar radiation, wind) • Need to collect additional snow and weather data to improve runoff forecasts a454/report/final/needs. doc 07/2&~OS 2-1