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

Artificial Recharge of Ground Water in Colorado
A Statewide Assessment

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Table of Contents

Executive Summary.................................................. ....................................................................... i

1. Introduction - Statement of Problem.................................................. ..................................... 1

Scope and Obj ectives.................................................................................................................. 1

Background............................................................................................................................. .... 3

II. Definitions of Recharge.......................................................................................................... 5

III. Objectives of Artificial Recharge .......................................... ............................................. 7

Manage Water Supply................................................................................................................. 8

Meet Legal Obligations............................................................................................................. 10

Manage/Mitigate Water Quality..... ........................ ........................................... ....................... 12

Restore/Protect Aquifers........................................................................................................... 13

Protection of the Environment ........................................ .......................................................... 15

IV. Technologies for Artificial Recharge......................... ....................................................... 15

Surface Infiltration.................................................................................................................... 16

Subsurface Infiltration.............................................................................................................. 18

Direct Injection......................................................................................................................... 20

Modification ofN atural Recharge............................................................................................ 23
Underground Water Storage Options..................... ......... .............. ........ ............ ........................ 23
General AR Technology Design Considerations ...................................................................... 24
V. Selected National and International Artificial Recharge Applications................................. 29

NATIONAL PROJECTS.......................................................................................................... 29

High Plains Aquifer System.................................................................................................. 29

California.............................................................................................................................. 32

Central Coast Hydrologic Region ..................... ............................... ............ ........................ 32
Colorado River Hydrologic Region ......................................................................................32

Arizona......... ................................................................................................................... ...... 33

Florida................................................................................................................................... 33

Kansas......................................................................................................................... .......... 33

Nebraska............................................................................................................................... 33

New Jersey............................................................................................................................ 34

New Y ork.............................................................................................................................. 34

Nevada.................................................................................................................................. 34

Texas............................................................................................................. ... ..................... 34

INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS.............................................................................................. 34

Australia................................................................................................................................ 34

England .................................. ................................... ................................................... ......... 35

Germany................................................................................................................................ 35

Israel........................................................................................................................ .............. 35

Netherlands........................................................................................................................... 35

Sweden.................................................................................................................................. 35

VI. Inventory of AR Projects in Colorado .............................................................................. 36

Active Recharge Operations..................................................................................................... 36

Lower South Platte River Basin............................................................................................42

San Luis Valley ................................................. ......... .... ..................................... .................. 45

Denver Basin ASR................................................................................................................ 47

Other Colorado Recharge Operations................................................................................... 48

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