Artifical Recharge of Ground Water in Colorado

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Artificial Recharge of Ground Water in Colorado A Statewide Assessment "It is no secret in Colorado that 2002 saw the worst drought in our state in recorded history. In many areas, it was the third consecutive dry year, and it stressed the water supply capabilities of many water providers and users. The value of reservoir water and groundwater was clearly realized, and we all recognize that additional storage would have reduced the impact of the drought. " Hal Simpson, State Engineer --Division of Water Resources 2002 Annual Report I. Introduction - Statement of Problem Colorado experienced the worst drought in recorded history in 2002 and is currently in the fifth consecutive year of the driest five -year period in a century of record keeping (Stein, 2004). Colorado has been subject to recurring multiple -year drought cycles through history (McKee and others, 2000). Even during times of normal precipitation, Colorado's relatively low precipitation rate (statewide average of approximately 16 inches per year) combined with high evaporative losses (statewide average of approximately 81 percent) result in a water balance deficit over most of the state, with the exception of the higher mountainous regions (Topper and others, 2003). The opening quote by Hal Simpson stresses the importance of ground water within the state's overall water management, and indicates a need for additional storage capacity. This storage capacity can take the form of surface -water reservoirs or underground water storage. The impacts of the current drought cycle on the state's agriculture, water supply systems, industry, citizens, and natural resources have been substantial and measurable. Colorado's accelerated population growth has also placed increasing demands on its limited water resources. Periods of drought highlight this resource limitation and raise serious concerns about the sustainability of our state's water resources. Surface -water reservoirs have been the primary means of storing water to meet Colorado's needs. This study looks at an alternative means of increasing water storage capacity by storing water underground in aquifers and voids. Scope and Obiectives This study is a statewide assessment of the potential for artificial recharge of ground water in Colorado. Artificial recharge is defined as any engineered or designed system that puts water on or in the ground for the purpose of infiltration and subsequent migration into underlying aquifers. The study focuses on the location, geology, and physical ability of various aquifers within Colorado to store additional water supplies. In addition, other unconventional means of underground water storage through the use of abandoned coal mines, metal mines, and caves are assessed.