Laserfiche WebLink
<br />J <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />(shown in Table 12-1 on page 12-2) to meet a demand of 1,014,000 acre-feet. <br />These two scenarios underscore the importance of water use efficiency measures <br />and water reuse. <br /> <br />Chapter 13 - Assessment of Surface and Groundwater Development in the Lower <br />South Platte River in Accordance with the South Platte River Compact <br /> <br />This chapter summarizes current and future water development needs in the <br />Lower South Platte area, recognized as that part of the basin below the <br />Henderson Gage. Also outlined are the efforts of the Lower South Platte River <br />Group (LSPRG) and others to address the water needs of the Lower South <br />Platte region as they relate to the South Platte River Compact. <br /> <br />The majority of water development in the lower South Platte River in Colorado <br />occurred prior to 1900 as flows became reliable due to return flows from <br />upstream development. The water supply system has not changed much since <br />that time. The area in Colorado that lies upstream of the Washington County line <br />is unaffected by the South Platte River Compact and has developed without <br />limitations from downstream states, The South Platte River Compact between <br />Colorado and Nebraska has controlled water uses in the Lower Section during <br />that time, and ditches that were junior to the Compact date of June 14, 1897 <br />have been abandoned due to the unreliability of flows subject to the Compact. <br /> <br />There are new needs for water development in the lower South Plqtte River <br />including water needs related to the Endangered Species Act, the need to firm <br />augmentation supplies for existing wells, new water demands for growth in the <br />region, and the enhancement of habitat to prevent listing of .species of concem" <br />that exist in the South Platte River in Colorado. <br /> <br />Water in excess of the Compact obligations exists during periods of high flow <br />and during the wintertime when Colorado has full use of the river pursuant to the <br />Compact. The amount of excess water available under the Compact would be <br />reduced under the basin-wide recovery program developed by the states of <br />Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming and the Department of the Interior (USFWS <br />and USSR). However, there should be sufficient water remaining to meet the <br />needs of Colorado in the future. <br /> <br />Efficient methods exist to redistribute excess flows during more critical low flow <br />times to meet the needs of the lower river. The South Platte Lower River Group, <br />Inc. is a non-profit organization with widespread participation that has been <br />initially successful in examining and resolving some of the issues on the lower <br />South Platte River. <br /> <br />Chapter 14 - Economic Life of the Denver Basin Aquifers, SB 96-153 (Technical <br /> <br />- 13- <br />