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Red Mesa Aquifer Groundwater Study — Interim Report 2002 <br /> rise ranged from a fraction of a foot to more than six feet. The most substantial increase in the <br /> groundwater table occurred in the northern portion of the study area beneath lands irrigated by <br /> the HH, Treanor and upper portion of the Slade ditches. During May and June of 2001 the well <br /> water levels generally rise during the irrigation of overlying lands and fall after the irrigation <br /> ceases (see Figures 7A and 7B). By late June (see Figure 7C), water levels in most wells began <br /> to decline. <br /> The water table decline throughout the vast majority of the study area continued through May 20, <br /> 2002 (see Figure 7D through 7J). The Spriggs, L. Harris, Beam, S. Greer and Huntington wells <br /> are exceptions. Each showed at least one significant increase since September 10, 2001 (see <br /> Figures 7F to 7J). The Huntington well, in particular, increased on three occasions. These <br /> increases are due to recharge from Red Mesa Ward Reservoir irrigation water during low-flow <br /> periods. Reservoir water is conveyed through the Joseph Freed, Revival and Warren-Vosburgh <br /> ditches. The majority of water infiltrates into the western portion of Red Mesa Aquifer on the La <br /> Plata River side of the groundwater divide (see Figure 5). <br /> The water table monitoring data clearly indicate a direct relationship between irrigation and a rise <br /> in the groundwater table. The Red Mesa terrace gravel aquifer provides temporary storage for <br /> water derived from ditch seepage or deep infiltration of irrigation water. <br /> 4.0 GROUNDWATER MAPPING <br /> 4.1 Water Table <br /> The water table was mapped for two dates. Mapping was done for May 16 and 17, 2001 (see <br /> Figure 5) and December 18 and 19, 2001 (see Figure 6). The dates for the mapping were <br /> selected to represent the high and low water table levels, respectively. The water table is drawn <br /> with 50-foot contour intervals. The contours were plotted using static well elevation data from <br /> monitored wells and by incorporating surface topography of the area. <br /> 991-077/031 Wright Water Engineers, Inc. Page 8 <br /> Interim Report <br />