Environmental Assessment for the Tamarack Groundwater Recharge Project

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low evaporation amounts. The evaporation computed the lower South Platte River Basin in Colorado i for existing gross flows. icall g recharge projects in tYP y less than one percent of BY selecting the correct location of recharge the river, the return #lows occumin basins with res Depletion Factor g m the s pect to then distance from a standardized SDF ") method developed by theU. be optimized. The Stream accretions to the n��used for analyzing the U.S. Geologic yey (uUSGS" S SDF timing of well de ledons ) is canal Teaches along GPs give SDF factors for recharge and recharge of days and represent the lag Platte River in Colorado, basins and P g time for rec These SDF factors have units mathematical solution of the SDF harge to return to the river. From the when 28 percent of the method, the SDF factor ' amount recharged has m days represents the time 72 percent of the recharge returns to the river in the time to the river. The remain in Period. Figure 1 is a USGS ma time followin g River in Colorado. P of SDF factors for the lowest reach ESOP day South Platte The SDF values for the South Platte River Basin in Colorado range systems and recharge basins ' wells will be located be tween the recharge bas 60 days to 1,500 in the lower gradients days_ Observation and return flows to the river from the SeCchha the river n , that monitored. Estimates of re groundwater Plan return flows to the river from � � seepage can be may be reviewed by the Governance Committee d the operation of the T Cooperative Agreement. during the to Tamarack g rm of the �• HISTORICAL ANALYSIS Colorado has analyzed how the T r 1943 -1994. For the Tamarack Plan would haVe o flows for diversion Purpose of-.this historic anal Operated ding the period Y the Tamarack Plan to recharge Ysifac iods and amounts of excess assumed to occur when the following facilities in Colorado were River Compact requirements were satisfied were satisfied: Wildlife Service ( "RyyS i) flows exceeded (1) South Platte Platte River in ") year round target fl ows at the the Fish and anal Nebraska. Existing target flows for every Island gage °II the analysis and the monthly target values varied hydrologic Ty monthiwere used average, and dry with In this Conditions of wet, This analysis assumed that Ping of new to recharge basins could occur d groundwater wells 1 freezing Periods due to warmer unng the winter orated next to the river groundwater tem mouse wells can o uring Pumping to rechar a bas' peratures. Phis Aerate d Colorado Division of wildlife st T fleets Potential o analysis also assumed amarack Aerations at the 10,000 acre to install appTOtely twen Ranch State wildlife construct neceos tY new large capaci Wells ��' Colorado plans of the new rec ary recharge basins and related an d associated pipelines and barge basins which the wells pmonitonng features, The SDF values P into will vary from 60 days to 3