<br />(:' l,)
<br />\)(.)\9:.1
<br />
<br />Additional operative areas are difficult to using the data available for the study described in this report
<br />
<br />
<br />t!ithout being speculative. For example, a good visual correlation can be described between ground-water levels
<br />
<br />and ground-water withdrawals in the late 1970's and early 1980's. In fact, regression techniques can be used to
<br />
<br />explain about 70 percent of the variability measured in the upland wells based on ground-water withdrawals.
<br />
<br />Other, more advanced regression techniques such as stepwise regression, automates the procedure of selecting the
<br />
<br />most effective algorithm for several independent variables, in this case the independent variables would consist of
<br />
<br />,/\
<br />all hydrologic factors. When stepwise regression was implemented as part of this study, ![i~,:water )l(ithdrawaIs
<br />// />~ '\'\ '~'" \'" "~
<br />were identified as insignificant. Thus, the existing data lacks the resolution neede~ tt~~rde d~~~l~~!,plana-
<br />/ ~""<-"-,, '" ') // <;;",,'~
<br />tions of all phenomena present in the measured records. _ \ .:~>/ /', t. 'I v
<br />//, \ { "'\ '-~, ,J
<br />/ j'') L,-." \/ /~~'> '\",~_"'~
<br />One way to improve the current (1999) level of knowledge rnig~J..~_~i~l'Oa"c€li:a~\ll\u01Iection effort
<br />// /-'~, \ -~/ ;(~ ~~~-~j .i
<br />specifically designed to document losses from the Fort Lyon Canal ~n'1i)ilelJfe,;,t~IQYSurlac~:water application in
<br />,\ "" / <' ~--"- \. ~ ~/
<br />" '; ,/ ?';'-,"---. ","',
<br />'.', / ft, ",
<br />the short term. Such efforts could most likely make use of eXlsIingiwells tlta~)li)'e ,~ro(~ sections of tile water table
<br />//"'''"\ _._"\._-.'>- //"--"~,- <_/-~-_/
<br />.tween the canal and the Arkansas River. \'" /' <</,::~>'/
<br />" ~"
<br />\ ~ .,
<br />(~\\\_ \ ,,>'v
<br />"" ,~ \ \.
<br />,-: ---".,:>, "\\,\",-
<br />/"'\", -t:'-"~,, '
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<br />\" ~_ '''\ _" "\-v'
<br />/',- "<:~ <'\ /' j'.,
<br />/ -",," ',< -'\~ ./' -)
<br />Ground-water levels in the al!b~l~1~,9ifer<15~w,een the Fort Lyon Canal and the Arkansas River in the
<br />/\, -'''--\~v) /<~~)- '~~>
<br />vicinity of La Junta, CoIorado;:ftQ~ t)l~FortrLyon~\lnaI headgate east to the Otero County line can impair the use
<br />( / <:::>> \>\~</~;~~~\,,:--::'/
<br />of agricultural land and pe,r~G~aypr6peltlj~Watl;i~tabIe and depth-to-water maps made on the basis of water-level
<br />< <,/'~ ",'<:v' "\::'0\>- //
<br />measurements fromM'iIrc;hpfJ99'.!l,j!1~i~~ iliat, during the measurement period, the local alluvial aquifer
<br />"_ /., "\"/,,~:'~,,<<:;) ~rJ
<br />received recharge froW t~e,!-,ortbJ,O:rrtanal and the Arkansas River and that as much as 50 percent of land surface
<br />
<br />SUMMARY
<br />
<br />
<br />" i)
<br />'>,""," '\
<br />in the study area is w,lth,ifr'5-'fee(of the water table. In general, water levels are shallowest near the river and
<br />. . I
<br />
<br />become deeper closer tothe canal; areas of relatively shallow water levels are fairly widespread in the western part
<br />
<br />of the study area.
<br />
<br />A visual analysis of hydrographs for 5 wells with record from about 1965 to 1995 indicates a general
<br />
<br />~ndenCy for water levels to have increased during this period. The general tendency for increase can be quantified
<br />
<br />20
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