WSP01414

• File Number: 8449.918
• Description: South Platte Projects
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Date: 8/1/1982
• Author: CWCB
• Title: South Platte River Basin Assessment Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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The major water resources projects in this water district are Chatfield,

Bear Creek, and Cherry Creek Reservoirs, all of which were constructed and

are operated by the U.S. I\.rmy Corps of Engineers to provide flood control

protection for the Denver metropolitan area (Figure 11). The City of

Denver has obtained, through an agreement with the United States and the

State of Colorado, permission to utilize part of the storage of Chatfield

Reservoir for regulation of its water supply. Denver generally will

maintain permanent storage volumes in Chatfield Reservoir of between 13,000

and 28,000 acre-feet annually (Kenneth Mitchell, personal communication,

Denver Water Department, October 1981).

Water District 2

This former water district extends from the South Platte River gaging

station at Denver to the gaging station at Kersey (Figure 10). Although

rapid urbanization is taking place in the upper part of this former water

district, most of the existing water uses are for agricultural purposes.

Surface water diversions by 17 ditches and ground water withdrawals by

approximately 1750 alluvial wells irrigate an estimated 125,000 acres

(Morton W. Bittinger and Associates, 1968).

The Gardeners (Hellers) and the Burlington Canals divert water from the

South Platte River upstream from its confluence with Clear Creek. The

Fulton, Brantner and McCann Canals divert between the mouth of Clear Creek

and the Henderson gage on the South Platte River. The major ditches

between the Henderson gage and the mouth of st. Vrain Creek include the

Brighton, Lupton Bottom, Meadow Island No.1, Beeman, Meadow Island No.2,

Jay Thomas, Platteville, Platte Valley, Farmers Independent, and the

Western Mutual Canals. Between the mouths of St. Vrain Creek and the Big

Thompson River are the Union and Godfrey (Section 3) Canals. Diversions

for the Lower Latham, Patterson, and the Plumb (Highland) Canals are

located below the mouth of the Big Thompson, but above the mouth of the

Cache la Poudre and the Kersey gage.