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<br />2.1.1.5.2 Two sources of ground water to supply the town of Rangely <br />were examined as alternatives to the construction of a reservoir. <br />They are the White River alluvium deposit on which the town Is built <br />and the sandstones and shales of the Mesa Verde group south of the <br />White River. Ground water In deeper sedimentary fonnatlons such as <br />the Mancos sha 1 e and Dakota sands tone Ish I gh 1 y sa 11 ne and <br />unacceptab 1 e for mun I c I pa 1 use. The Mancos sha 1 e Is approx I mate 1 y <br />3,000 feet (914 m) thick In the Rangely area, and Is exposed north and <br />south of the WhIte Rlver,(6) <br /> <br />2.1.1. 5.3 The Wh I te River water resources are current 1 y under study <br />by the U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resource Division. Preliminary <br />results of the sturly Indicate that the alluvial aquifer In the Rangely <br />area Is much smaller than anticipated. Water quality has been found <br />to be poor, except Immediately adjacent to or beneath the White River. <br />Well yields have also been found to be poor. Drilling for 011 and gas <br />In the Range1y 011 Field has further reduced the potable water supply <br />available In the alluvium. Ground water In the Range1y area Is more <br />fully described In Chapter 4, Section 4,8.2. <br /> <br />2.1.1.5.4 Continued development of the Range1y 011 Field will likely <br />Increase the water quality problems now being experienced by shallow <br />ground water users In the area. After examining the 10ng-tenn needs <br />of Range1y and the expected degradation of the limited alluvial <br />aquifer beneath the White River flood plain, It does not appear that <br />this source Is suitable for municipal supply. Any use of alluvial <br />ground water should be confined to the area Immediately adjacent to or <br />beneath the White River In an Infiltration gallery. In effect, this <br />arrangement would be an Improved surface-water diversion, with a <br />portion of the sand/gravel aquifer serving as a filter, This <br />alternative Is evaluated In Section 2.6. <br /> <br />2.1,1,5.5 Sedimentary units above the main body of the Mancos shale <br />(Cast1egate Sandstone, Sego Sandstone, and the Mesa Verde Group) <br />represent the only potential bedrock ,aquifer In the Rangely area, <br />Unfortunately, Range1Y Is located on the axis of an eroded anticline <br /> <br />10 <br />