PROJ00474

• Contract/PO #: FS0005x
• Contractor Name: Central Colorado Water Conservancy District
• County: El Paso
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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USE OF WATER IN BOX ELDER CREEK DRAINAGE

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The lower half of Box Elder Creek lies in between two large irrigation
networks; the Henrylyn Irrigation District to the east, and the Farmers
Reservoir and Irrigation Company (FRICO) to the west. The only surface
water users in Box Elder Creek are those who rely on the flows of Box Elder
Creek itself, and as noted above, these storage structure are for the most
part breached or damaged. Consequently, the most significant use of water
can be attributed to groundwater withdrawals.

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Use of Groundwater

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Appendix A is an excerpt from the U.S. Geological Survey publication
entitled "Ground-Water Resources of the South Platte River Basin in Western
Adams and Southwestern Weld Counties Colorado Geological Survey
Water-Supply Paper 1658" published in 1964. The publication describes the
occurrence and use of groundwater within the lower portion of the Box Elder
Creek basin.

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Central's Groundwater Management Subdistrict is charged with providing
an augmentation supply for member wells in the Box Elder Creek alluvium.
(The number of non-member wells is not known. There may be other wells in
the area who are members of Groundwater Appropriators of the South Platte,
Inc. "GASP", and possibly wells which are not augmented at all).

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Central estimates pumping by member wells above Bootleg Reservoir
averages roughly 5,000 acre-feet per year. Wells below Bootleg pump an
average of roughly 12,000 acre-feet per year.

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Colorado law requires that pumping by these wells (average priority
date approximately 1950) must not injure diversions by senior
appropriators, Le., South Platte surface water diverters. At present,
Central is providing replacement supplies to the South Platte River to
offset potential pumping effects.

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Central's eventual goal, however,
in Box Elder Creek so that the South
achieve this goal, Central has had
Henrylyn Irrigation District and FRICO
into Box Elder Creek for the purpose of

is to manage the use of groundwater
Platte injury does not occur. To
continuing negotiations with the
to import South Platte River flows
recharging the alluvial aquifer.

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Based on verbal agreements with the Henrylyn Irrigation District,
South Platte River flows were delivered into Box Elder Creek in 1979, 1980,
1983, and 1987. The point of delivery has been the Denver Hudson Canal,
where it crosses Box Elder Creek.

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In 1987, a total of approximately 1,500 acre-feet was delivered at an
average rate of 20 cfs. At the Parshall flume below Klug Reservoir
(referred to earlier), flows increased from the base flow of 4 cfs to as
high as 24 cfs. It was reported that all flows disappeared about three
miles north of Klug Reservoir into the alluvium.

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