PUB00084

• Year: 2004
• Title: Artificial Recharge of Ground Water in Colorado -- A Statewide Assessment
• CWCB Section: Administration
• Author: Colorado Geological Survey
• Description: This study was a special assignment to the CGS from the DNR Executive Director. The tqask was to assess the underground water storage options potentially available in our state.
• Publications - Doc Type: Tech Report

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Artificial Recharge of Ground Waler in Colorado
A Slalr:wide ASlieMlment

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1 Figurel-lb Denver Basin aquifer
recharge project ASR well A-ro.

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Figure I-l<l nillon Reservoir (torn Frisc:-o M;uina durinu the Slnnmer
2002 drought

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Artificial recharge in some fashion has been used for centuries. During the last several hundred
years. nomads in Turkmenistan have been collecting infrequent surface runoff into an infiltration
pit located in sand dunes where the surface \\/atcr recharges ncar-surface ground water. Ground
\vater is then available for extraction from a series ofhand4dug wells surrounding the pit cven
during dry periods (Pync, 1995). A tribal community in western India has also been applying
artificial recharge to enhance ,vater supply and improve water quality obtained from a tank
excavated in fine sand and clay (Pyne. 1995). Closer to home. California began practicing
artificial recharge by routing stornl runofTinto infiltration (spreading) basins around the turn of
the century. Interest in artificial recharge grew in California and New York during the 1930s as
a way to conserve or enhance ground.water resources (Weeks. 2002).

In Colorado. the earliest documented application ofartilicial recharge began at Olds Reservoir in
Wcld County when local farmers took advantage ofa leaky reservoir built several decades
earlier. Surface water was diverted into the little used structure in order to maintain water levels
in the underlying alluvial aquifer (Skinner. 1963). In 1959, the Colorado Agricultural
Experiment Station (CAES) initialed a study of artificial and natural recharge in Colorado that
was funded by the Forty-second Colorado General Assembly under Senate Bill No. 336. There
is very little documentation of the results of this study. however. it was initiated to consider
artificial recharge in the following basins (CSU. 1960):

. South Platte River Basin
. Arkansas River Basin
. Colorado High Plains Ogallala formation
. San Luis Valley
. Denver Basin bedrock aquifers

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