Board Meeting 08/16/1982

• Board Meeting Date: 8/16/1982
• Description: CWCB Meeting
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

High Plains Study
*4

Colorado
High Plains
Advisory Committee

Colorado
Department of
Agriculture

1525 Sherman Street
Denver. Colorado 80203
[phone]

June l~l:ll

STUDY BACKGROUND AND CURRENl' STA1US

The $6 million Hi~ Plains Study was authorized by Congress in 1976 to in-
vestigate the dep etion ot the Ogallala Aquifer and develop recOllIIaldations
for action. The Ogallala covers approximately 225.000 square miles and
provides water for lTDre than 20 percent of the nation's irrigated acreage.
Six states participated in the study: Coloraoo (3%). Kansas (8%),
Nebraska (77%), New Mexico (1%), Oklahorra (2%), and Texas (9%), (percen-
tages indicate the relative share of the Ogallala for each state).
Wyoming and South Dakota contain srmll portions of the Ogallala but did
not participate in the study.

State-level research by CSU and three state agencies began in 1979 and was
COIIpleted in the fall of 1981. Tn Coloraoo, an advisory cOlllllittee of 22
eastern Colorado citizens developed 21 recorrrrendations for action in
February 1982 after an extensive public education and participation process,
This infonmtion is sUllII'arized in ~ newspapers prepared by the Colorado
Depart::Irent of Agriculture. Five full-length technical reports are avail-
able through the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute at CSU.

Six-state research results, plus other regional studies, have been compiled
by the general contractor, Camp Dresser and McKee, Inc. (Cll1), a consulting
finn from Austin, Texas. Cll1's cOfiprehensive report is scheduled for re-
lease in July, along with a detailed report by the U.S. Arrrrj Corps of
Engineers on interstate water transport options from the Missouri,
Mississippi, and Arkansas-TNhite-Red Rivers to the High Plains.

The !!!~ Plains Council, composed of the governors of the six study states,
plus ee additiona11lBl'bers from each state, is preparing its own report.
Coloraoo I s 1IBI'bers are Bud Mcl<elburg, Yuma farmer and businessman; Mmte
Pascoe, Executive Director cif the Colorado Depart:mmt of Natural Resources;
and l-brgan Smith, Executive Director of the Colorado Depcu.wJt<llt of Local
Affairs. This re rt will s=ize research results for the six-state
region and will include approximatelv 20 recorrrrenclations or action. A
20-page draft report is currently available. A detailed version of this
report is scheduled for public review arid corrrrent during Septamer. The
Council is expected to develop final recomnendations for action in
N:>vamer. 1982. A Congressional briefing is tentatively scheduled for
February 1983,

RESEARCH RESULTS

Research results for the Colorado portion of the six-state study project a
40 ercent decline in irri ated acrea e over the next 40 ears for the re-
gion un r aseline usiness as usua con 'tions, with rost of the de-
cline occurring in the eastern central and southeast areas of the aquifer.
These baseline projections are based upon sorrewhat optimistic assuq>tions: