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is because the USGS is currently involved in a program to characterize these mountainous <br />groundwater regions and a duplication of their efforts is not desired at this time. <br />The assessment of available wells and pumping data is summarized in Table 3-3, using the four <br />evaluation criteria for each geographic area, and discussed in detail below. <br />3.8.2.1 Spatial Coverage. Virtually all wells pumping significant quantities of water are <br />expected to have well permits on file in the SEO. The spatial coverage of well records is <br />expected to be good in all geographic areas, therefore this portion of the discussion of the data <br />will not require segregation by geographic area. Based on experience in the basin, however, <br />many small capacity wells are not permitted and consequently, the absolute number and location <br />of these wells are unknown. The locations of wells in the SEO database are generally presented <br />by township, range, section and quarter section, with some records provided to the quarter- <br />quarter section or by longitude/latitude coordinates. The SEO is undertaking a program to <br />identify the location of wells that have capacities greater than 50 gpm using GPS technology, so <br />the location information will improve in the future. It is likely that the locations of some wells <br />will be checked when correlating them to individual farms or other points of use. <br />The coverage of pumping records is limited because the SEO does not collect and/or maintain <br />well pumping data. GASP, CCWCD, municipalities and other water user groups maintain <br />records of pumping but it is unknown if these records will be available for the SPDSS. In <br />addition, the accuracy of the pumping records maintained by these groups varies because some <br />wells are measured directly but most pumping records are estimated based on a variety of <br />techniques. The limitations regarding pumping data are discussed in the following paragraphs. <br />3.8.2.2 Period of Record. Well records on file at the SEO, which are consistent <br />between geographic regions, extend back to a well's permit or adjudication date. Therefore, well <br />records are good with respect to temporal coverage. Pumping data, where available, range from <br />daily to average annual rates and extend back for periods of varying length. Accordingly, the <br />condition of the temporal pumping record is fair to poor. <br />3.8.2.3 Completeness and Reliability. Well pumping records within Division 1 and <br />Water District 47 generally are incomplete and of poor quality. For most wells the only <br />available pumping information is contained in either the well permit or water rights databases <br />with very few records available of actual pumping rates. Pumping of municipal and industrial <br />wells within the Denver Basin bedrock aquifers was estimated in 1996 by the SEO as part of the <br />SB 96-74 groundwater modeling effort. Pumping information from that time period would be <br />considered fair for the Denver Basin bedrock aquifers, but poor for the overlying alluvial and <br />Designated Groundwater Basin aquifers. Data for other time periods is considered poor as well. <br />Pumping records for some wells in the Lower South Platte Alluvium Region are more complete <br />and reliable as a result of the 1969 Water Rights Determination Act. For example, GASP has <br />been reporting their members' groundwater withdrawals on an annual basis since 1982. Other <br />groundwater user groups and ditch and irrigation companies in this area also may have records of <br />groundwater pumping over time. Therefore, groundwater pumping information in this <br />geographic area is fair. <br />p:data\gen\spdss~final report\chapter 3.doc 3 - 19 <br />October 31, 2001 <br />