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

I

I

I

the gradient of the water table as flat as possible between the upstream

area of poor water quality and the better quality water to the north.

The rate of movement is directly proportional to the gradient.

I
II
II

I

II

From the legal standpoint, if only the historic natural consumptive

use is removed from the system, the amount of ground water flowing out of

the aquifer
unaffected.
established

and utilized by downstream water rights is essentially

The Colorado Ground Water Commission recognized this when they

the Lost Creek Desig~'ted Ground Water Basin. The following

statement was included in the document containing the final order for
establishment of the Designated Basin:

I

The Commission recognizes the legislative declaration
of policy as stated in Section 148-18-1 CRS 1963, as
amended, that the water resources of this state be devoted
to beneficial use in reasonable amOU>1ts and that prior
appropriation of ground water should be protected and
reasonably ground water pumping levels maintained but
not to include the maintenance of historical water levels.
The testimony indica~es that some of the ground water in
the Lost Creek Basin leaves the basin and is tributary to
the flow of the South Platte River. However, with proper
monitoring and selection of observation wells, water lev8ls
in the northern part of the basin can be observed and with-
drawals regulated so that the historic underflow to the South
Platte River can be maintained even with additional pumping
of an estimated 10,000 acre-feet per year from the basin.
The additional water, in absence of said pumping, would be
lost in the area through evapotranspiration.

I

I

I

I

I

The origin of the 10,000-acre-foot figure used by the Colorado Ground

Water Commission is not clear in that the Nelson, Haley, Patterson and

Quirk (19~7) study set forth the figure of 25,000 acre feet. Personnel in

the State Engineer's office indicate it is their understanding the Commission

intends to approve well permits for a total withdrawal volume of 10,000

acre feet beyond that which had been permitted prior to establishment of

the Designated Basin. When this limit is reached they will review the

situation before approving additional wells. Although hydrologically there

is no reason to do so, the permits granted in Hay Gulch are included within

the 10,000-acre-foot limit.

I

I

I

I

I

I

- 23 -

M. W, BITTINGER AND ASSOCIATES, INC.