PROJ00300

• Contract/PO #: C153643
• Contractor Name: Morgan County Quality Water District
• Water District: 0
• County: Morgan
• Bill Number: XB 99-999
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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The watershed area of Lost Creek is about 400 square miles. In the
upper portion the water- table is well below the land surface, and the
stream beds are dry except after severe storms. In the lower portion,
particularly north of Highway I-80S, the water is near or at the surface
over a large area.

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Recharge to the Lost Creek alluvium is not only derived from precipi-

tation, but also from irrigation water brought into the Prospect Valley

area by the Henrylyn Irrigation District. Recharge from this ,ource is

from canal losses, deep percolation from irrigated fields and from planned

recharre through Olds Reservoir. However, ground-water use in the Prospect

Valley area has exceeded the natural and artificial recharge over the years,

resulting in a consistent lowering of the water table.

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Saturated thickness

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The saturatEd thickness of the Lost Creek alluvium north of Highway

I-80S is shown in Figure 5. A sizable and productive aquifer exists in

this region. Wells capable of yielding 1500 gallons per minute can be

obtained in the areas of thickest saturation.

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If the Lost Creek alluvium is used to serve the proposed Morgan County
Quality Water District, it is recommended that wells near the north end
of the basin be utilized. Not only are the hydrologic and geologic factors
more favorable for additional development, but also the ground-water
quality (as discussed in a later section) is considerably better than that
found south of Highway I-80S.

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Present ground-water uses

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Ground water from the Lost Creek alluvium has been used in the Pros-

pect Valley area since the 1930's. According to Nelson, Haley, Patterson

and Quirk (1967), there were about 310 irrigation wells in this area in

1966. As mentioned above, the net effect on the ground-water supplies

south of Highway I-80S has been one of depletion.

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Prior to 1967, the principal use of ground water north of Highway

I-80S was through natural subirrigation of meadows and nonbeneficial losses

to the atmosphere from the shallow water table and free water surfaces.

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M. W, BITTINGER AND ASSOCIATES, INC.