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<br />, .' <br /> <br />OU0159 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Specific objectives of the study are: <br /> <br /> <br />1. To adapt and expand the current CSU computer model for conjunctive <br /> <br /> <br />management of a surface-ground water supply to the assessment of hydrologic <br /> <br /> <br />impacts of improved irrigation water-use efficiency in the South Platte <br /> <br /> <br />River Basin, and <br /> <br /> <br />2. To operate the conjunctive model with a range of assumed "effi- <br /> <br /> <br />ciency" improvements in delivery, distribution and application systems <br /> <br /> <br />and in irrigation water management practices so as to evaluate the basin- <br /> <br /> <br />wise hydrologic impacts and costs. <br /> <br />Method of Approach <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Many complex interacting factors must be considered in order to <br /> <br /> <br />properly evaluate the benefits of increasing efficiency in irrigation. The <br /> <br /> <br />larger the area considered the more this statement is true. The loss of <br /> <br /> <br />water from one field or farm is often a part of the water supply histori- <br /> <br /> <br />cally used on other farms. Likewise, all seepage losses from ditches and <br /> <br /> <br />reservoirs are not necessarily losses to a river reach or a basin. <br /> <br />In order to adequately take into consideration even the major inter- <br /> <br /> <br />actions in an area of any size it is necessary to be able to compute the <br /> <br /> <br />effects of the many interactions in both space and time. This requires <br /> <br /> <br />development of a mathematical model which must be solved on a large computer <br /> <br /> <br />because of the mass of data and the complexity of the calculations. For <br /> <br /> <br />this study, a mathematical approach developed by Dr, Morel-Seytoux was <br /> <br /> <br />chosen to be used. This model approach is described in general in a <br /> <br /> <br />later section of this report along with references to more detailed descrip- <br /> <br /> <br />tions. <br /> <br />A specific study area and base time period were selected for use in <br /> <br /> <br />the model. These choices, described in detail below, were made principally <br /> <br />because of availability of data. No inference should be drawn that the <br /> <br /> <br />efficiency of irrigation and irrigation systems in the study area is better <br /> <br /> <br />or worse than any other portion of the South Platte River Basin. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />-2- <br />