WSP02564

• File Number: 8059
• Description: Section D General Studies-State Water Plan
• State: CO
• Date: 1/1/3000
• Author: Norman A Evans
• Title: State Water Plan Reference Data-Colorado Water Summary
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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system analysis techniques has included parameter identification studies using the
technique of quasi linearization , analysis of waste-water recharge and dispersion 1n
porous media, optimization studies (both deterministic and stochastic) of serially
interconnected surface water projects, and multilevel decomposition studies of
flash distillation systems. Quasilinearization has been proven to be a fast and
superior technique relative to traditional techniques in identifying water resource
system parameters. Dynamic programming has been applied to many serially inter-
connected reservoirs as an attack on planning problems, and good results have been
obtained for both deterministic and stochastic models (A-033-CAL).

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In another systems analysis study, a stochastic dynamic programming model has
been developed to determine optimum operation of a single multi-purpose reservoir.
Optimization includffiproviding a firm water supply, on-peak and dump hydroelectric
production, flood control, and low flow augmentation. Inflow into the reservoir
is the stochastic element of the model. The technical completion report will be in
the form of a technical paper, now being prepared for publication (B-091-CAL). Work
on systems analysis for groundwater management during the past year has concentrated
on the dynamics of the boundary between fresh and salt waters in coastal aquifers.
Because of heavy pumping of aquifers, there are landward hydraulic gradients in
coastal groundwater basins all up and down the California coast. A generalized
mathematical model has been developed which will simulate and predict the movement
of a fresh-salt water transition zone under different field conditions in confined
aquifers (B-041-CAL). California is a state subject to earthquakes. Many dams
are located over faultsJ and essentially all major aqueducts cross important
faults on the surface or in tunnels. It is recognized that fault movements that
occur with earthquakes could cause severe disruption. One project seeks to
incorporate earthquake risk into planning decisions on water systems, utilizing
systems analysis techniques (B-I07-CAL).

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COLORADO

Dr. Norman A. Evans, Director

Colorado is a producer of water. situated as it is astride the Continental
Divide, feeding snowmelt water from its Rocky Mountain slopes into five major
river basins. Its main water problem revolves around redistribution of water
to the center of population and region of high agricultural and industrial water
demand in the eastern half of the State. An average annual precipitation of
17.8'. is distributed about .equally between east and west slope regions. The
western region has about 37 per cent of the land area and receives 42 per cent
of the total annual precipitation. The eastern region containing 63 per cent of
the land area receives 58 per cent of the annual precipitation but 85 per cent
of the population resides there. Most of the irrigable land ~nd, at this time,
almost all water-consuming industry, is located in the eastern region. In
addition to physical problems of topography and igneous-metamorphic rock barriers,
the legal and social cons taints to interbasln water transfers are significant.
Problems of water quality and water pollution are relatively minor in comparison
with downstream States, but the fight against water quality degradation here
goes on as vigorously as in any other State. Colorado's water problems, encap-
sulated. are problems of supply augmentation and better efficiency and economy
in water use in the eastern region and measures to assure the preservation of
its ~ater quality.

Groundwater contitutes an important but limited source of supply augmentatio~
in the eastern part of the State. Recharge into the major aquifer of eastern
Colorado, the extensive Ogallala formation, depands almost entirely upon infil-
tration of water into the soil surface. A surprisingly large am?unt of water can

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