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I I I , I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I As near as can be determined, seven wells were permitted prior to establishment of the Designated Basin. Since then 19 well permits have been issued for the Lost Creek alluvium for a total of about 7500 acre feet per year. The six well permits issued for Hay Gulch total 2460 acre feet, bringing the total of the two right at the 10,000-acre~foot limit. Present ground-water quality A significant difference in ground-water quality exists between the older irrigated area of Prospect valley and the lower area north of Highway I-80S. Figure 7 shows measurements of total dissolved solids, hardness and nitrates in samples from a number of wells north of Highway I-80S. These indicate the total dissolved solids and hardness to be usable for drinking and household purposes, although up against the desirable limits in some wells. Full analyses of samples from wells in Sections 2 and 3, T3N, R62W, made by the Colorado Department of Health are presented in Tables 3 and 4. Ground-water quality in the Prospect Valley area has degraded, prin- cipally because of the use and reuse of the water for irrigation, This has gradually concentrated the salts in less and less water. Ground water having a concentration of 3000 ppm of total dissolved solids exists only a few miles south of Roggen. Dependability of quality Because of the poorer quality ground water which exists upstream, it is likely that the water quality in the lower area will deteriorate with time and bp.come unsuitable for drinking purposes. The length of time for this to happen will depend to some extent upon how heavily the lower por- tion is pumped and the continuance of surface water spreading when flows in Lost Creek are available. If the consumptive use is held to the historic consumptive use by evaporation and transpiration, and special efforts are made to recharge with surface water whenever possible, the water quality in the northern portion should remain acceptable for 10 to 20 years. - 24 - M, W. BITTINGER AND ASSOCIATES, INC.