South Platte River Basin Assessment Report

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Study Objective The objective of this study is to identify, investigate, and evaluate the alternative means by which the State of Colorado can beneficially use additional waters of the South Platte River basin to which it is entitled. The study is a reconnaissance -level assessment which is based upon existing data, technical reports, and other readily available information (Woodward -Clyde Consultants, 1981). As such, it is subject to certain limitations, as set forth in the last section of this chapter. Geographic Scope The geographic scope of this study includes the natural drainage basin of the South Platte River in Colorado and the water naturally arising therein. The study is limited to examining water resources development alternatives that exist or have been proposed at or downstream from the confluence of the North Fork of the South Platte River and the mainstem of the South Platte River (Figure 1). For purposes of hydrologic analyses, the upstream point of the study area on the stream system was taken as the South Platte River at South Platte, Colorado (drainage area of 2579 square miles), and the downstream point of the study area was taken as the South Platte River at Julesburg, Colorado (drainage area of 23,138 square miles) (Figure 1). In addition, that part of the Republican River basin which is located within the state of Colorado east of and south of the South Platte River basin has been included in the study because the range of alternatives considered includes the proposed export of water from the South Platte River basin into that part of the High Plains area in Colorado (Figure 1). -4- r P� F] 1 J