WSP02970

• File Number: 8059
• Description: Section D General Studies-State Water Plan
• State: CO
• Date: 1/1/1969
• Title: Writing the Report 1969-Colorado River Basin Draft2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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PART III

COLORADO RIVER [lASI:1

The depth to ground water is a factor affectin~ ~eneral

availability and particularly the cost and feasibility of

p'umping. Tn general depths to ground water levels are shallo""st,

~erally less than 100 feet below land surface, along the allu-

v.iaL plains of the main streams in ~he basin. Levels are

deeQest, gen~rally more tnan 500 and locally more tnan 1,000 feet

below land surface, in the Colorado Plateau adjacent to the Ge"?~;

incised Colorado and San Juan.Rivers.

The estimated storage capacity in the upper 100 feet of

saturated ~hickness of the basin varies from 0 to 0.3 thouSdnd

acre-feet per square mile in the shale and crystalline rock

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portions ~o a~ high as j.2 to 9.6 t~~usa~d ac~C-~2e~ pc~

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square miL~ in Paradox Valley on the Dolores River. Generally,

&torage c~acity through the basin is less than .1.0 thousand

acre~feet per square mile.

~2). QuaHty

Disso.il.ved solids concentrations in ground water are ger:eraUj'

~rgher than in surface water. Ground water having the lowest

concentrat:ions of dissolved solids is usually found in the higher

mountain areas of the basin where there is seasor:al or perennial

recharge from infiltratin~ precipitation and streamflow, a free

circulation of the ground water, and few soluble salts in the

consoJ.idat:oed formations formin:, the mountains. These areas are

limited to the headwaters of the Sa;] Juan River in the southeaster..

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