SPDSS_Feasibility_20011001

• Title: SPDSS Feasibility Study
• Description: This report presents the results of an investigation to determine the feasibility of developing a decision support system for the South Platte and North Platte River basins in Colorado
• Decision Support - Doc Type: Study
• Date: 10/1/2001
• DSS: South Platte
• Basin: South Platte
• Contract/PO #: C153984A
• Bill Number: SB01-157, HB02-1152, SB03-110, HB04-1221, SB05-084, HB06-1313, SB07-122
• Prepared By: Brown and Caldwell, CDM, Leonard Rice Engineering, Riverside Technology inc

CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... E-1
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................1-1
1.1 PURPOSE ......................................................................................................... ........1-1
1.2 BASIN CONDITIONS ...................................................................................... ........1-3
1.2.1 South Platte River Basin .................................................................... ........1-3
1.2.2 North Platte River Basin .................................................................... ........1-4
1.2.3 Hydrogeologic Conditions in the South Platte River Basin ............... ........1-4
1.3 WATER ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT ISSUES ................... ........1-5
1.3.1 South Platte River Compact of 1923 .................................................. ........1-6
1.3.2 North Platte River Basin Decrees ....................................................... ........ l-6
1.3.3 Endangered Species Issues ................................................................. ........ l-6
1.4 DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS ................................................................... ........1-8
1.4.1 DSS Classes ....................................................................................... ........1-8
1.4.2 The "What If" Decision Process ......................................................... ........ l-9
1.4.3 User-Friendly Interfaces for Decision Makers ................................... ........1-9
1.4.4 The Colorado River and Rio Grande Decision Support Systems ...... ......1-10
1.5 LIST OF KEY REPORTS AND INDIVIDUALS INTERVIEWED ................ ......1-11
1.6 FEASIBILITY STUDY ORGANIZATION ...................................................... ......1-12
CHAPTER 2. NEEDS ASSESSMENT ...................................................................................2-1
2.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. ........ 2-1
2.1.1 System Needs ..................................................................................... ........2-1
2.1.2 Application Needs .............................................................................. ........ 2-2
2.2 VISUALIZATION, PRESENTATION AND COMMON DATA NEEDS ...... ........2-3
2.3 SURFACE WATER PLANNING NEEDS ...................................................... ........ 2-3
2.4 WATER RIGHTS ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING NEEDS ....... ........ 2-5
2.5 GROUNDWATER PLANNING NEEDS ........................................................ ........ 2-6
2.5.1 General Groundwater Needs .............................................................. ........ 2-6
2.5.2 Denver Basin System Needs .............................................................. ........2-7
2.6 CONSUMPTIVE USE NEEDS ........................................................................ ........ 2-7
2.7 WATER BUDGET NEEDS .............................................................................. ........2-8
2.8 IRRIGATED ACREAGE ASSESSMENT NEEDS ......................................... ........2-9
2.9 INTERSTATE NEEDS ..................................................................................... ........ 2-9
2.10 WATER QUALITY NEEDS .......................................................................... ........ 2-9
2.11 NEEDS IDENTIFIED BUT PROVIDED BY OTHERS ................................ ......2-10
2.12 SUMMARY .................................................................................................... ......2-10
CHAPTER 3. DATA ASSESSMENT .....................................................................................3-1
3.1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 3 -1
3.2 STREAMFLOW .......................................................................................................3-1
p:data\gen\spdss\final report\toc.doc
October 31, 2001