Division 1 Annual Report 1999

• File Number: 8461.250
• Description: Platte River Water Issues
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Author: Division 1
• Title: Division 1 Annual Report 1999
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

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"Transmountain Diversions Summary" page.
This page which will provide a more corraplete
accounfing of transmountain data than was
being presented by the USGS.
During July and September of 1999, Division
One personnel assisted scientists from the
USGS/9-iIF (Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility,
located in Mississippi) who came to Colorado to
test a portable gaging station on the Cache La
Poudre River at the Canyon Mouth. The
portable gage takes direct discharge
measurements, based on velocity sensors and
established stream cross sections. A Decatur
surface velocity radar gun was tested hand-held
from the cableway, and then mounted on a
fixed platfoRn. An Acoustic Doppler Current
Meter was also installed in the strearnbed,
along with a stage instrument. A 2-D wind
direction and velocity meter was also used to
provide data for characterizing and testing of
the Decatur radar unit. Data is collected and
transrnitted using a relatively novel pager-
activated Cel(ular Data Te(emetry System
allowing immediate remote access of site data
at any time.
The testing will be conducted for an extended
period of time to evaluate the iradar's
performance. Division One engineers were
given access to the USGS intemal web page to
monitor progress of the experiments. The HIF
and regional USGS web sites contain a wealth
of infmrmation on current research and "l"ips for
Techs" notes geared specifically to
hydrographic work.
The hydrographic branch currently includes 2
engineers, 3 full time technicians, and 2
hydrographer/deputy water commissioners who
operate the gages they use to administer water
rights during the imgation season.
Hydrographer-engineer Ted Anderson has also
served as a Division 1 computer resource
person while one of our office's engineering
positions remains vacant.
Involvement with the Communitv
D ivision One personnel continue to attend
and make presentations at Conservancy
District Meetings and Ditch Company meetings
and meetings of realtors, homeowners groups,
schools and universities. Specifically, staff this
year were involved in providing a class to
Colorado Water Congress Members, gave
presentations at three Board of Realtors
seminars conceming water, provided several
presentations at elementary schools,
participated in a career development program
at a local high school, taught a class for a
course at UNC and provided a presentation to
an Elder Hostel group, Divisian personnel
continue to be actively involved in the South
Platte Lower River Group and the Platte River
Project group along with several other groups
associated with Endangered Species Recovery
Plan efforts for the South Platte. We met also
with staff from Wyoming to discuss operation of
the Sand Creek agreement. Individual water
commissioners and other Division staff also
continue to attend and participate in many
water user organization annual meetings.
ON-GOING PROJECTS =
Big Thompson River and St. Vrain River
Enforcement Pro_qram
D uring 1999, Division One continued the
major effort to locate illegal uses of wells
and illegal surface water diversions. This effort
has been focused at the Big Thompsan River
(District 4) from the westem edge of the city
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Portable Gaging Stalion Radar Gun Velocity Test