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

Matthew A. Sares
Chief, Environmental Geology Section

Vincent Matthews
State Geologist and Director

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FOREWORD

This report, "Artificial Recharge of Ground Water in Colorado - A Statewide Assessment," was
requested by the Executive Director ofthe Department of Natural Resources in June 2003 to
assess the underground water storage options potentially available in our state. The study was a
special assignment for the Colorado Geological Survey - information and recommendations
were requested within six months of the study's commencement.

The urgency of the request came in response to several years of lower than average precipitation,
culminating in the extraordinary drought conditions of 2002. The drought highlighted the need
for additional water storage to help Colorado store available water from rivers originating in the
state. With a growing population and substantial agricultural production, underground storage of
water through artificial recharge could provide an important water storage option for the future
of Colorado.

Funding for this project was provided by the Colorado Geological Survey's portion of the
Colorado Department of Natural Resources Severance Tax Operational Fund. Severance taxes
are derived from the production of gas, oil, coal, and minerals.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many people played important roles in the preparation and production of this report. From the
Colorado Geological Survey, Jim Cappa, Chris Carroll, Sean Gaffney, and Karen Morgan,
helped with literature review and data collection for aquifer and non-aquifer (mining)
underground water storage options. Beth L. Widmann created the database to capture data for the
inventory of Colorado, national, and international artificial recharge sites. Betty Fox and Brenda
Hannu assisted with documentation of references. Jason Wilson and Larry Scott assisted with
preparation of figures and facilitated the production of the document.

Elizabeth Moll and Matthew Grizzell assisted in the voluminous literature search necessary for a
study of this scope. We thank the reviewers of this publication: Hal Simpson and Glenn Graham
of the Division of Water Resources, Rod Kuharich and Dan McAuliffe of the Colorado Water
Conservation Board, Frank McNulty of the DNR Executive Director's Office, and Russell
George Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources. Discussions with Ivan
Johnson, Courtney Hemenway and Vince Matthews were very helpful in our initial scoping
process. We also acknowledge Ron Cattany's direction as the acting Director of the Colorado
Geological Survey during the production of this report.