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<br />UDHt7 <br /> <br />The Ogallala formation extends far beyond the boundaries <br />of Colorado. It is an important aquifer, especially in <br />LQebraalta, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. In fact, <br />the aquifer is much more extensive in otl}er States than it is <br />in Colorado. It is most extensively developed in Texas, where <br />many thousands of wells are furnishing water to irrigate <br />abou~ 5 million acres of land. <br /> <br />The Ogallala formation has not been extensively developed <br />for water in Colorado. However, enough wells have been <br />drilled to prove that it is capable of supplying large <br />quantities of water, which can be used for irrigation. A <br />recent estimate indicates that about 400 wells were being used <br />for irrigation in 1960~ the number has been increasing each <br />year . <br /> <br />Development of ground water, in the High Plains of <br />Colorado is behind that in several southwestern 5tates and <br />Colorado"s other major aquifers for several reasons. (l) The <br />depth to water and hence the cost of pUll1Ping water generally is <br />much greater in the High Plains thlU1 it is in the other major <br />ground-water provinces in the state~ (2) dry-land farming has <br />been successful, (3) land owners generally are reluctant to <br />make the large expendit>.lre to convert from dry land to irrigation <br />farming~ and (4J the climate is not as favorable for growing <br />high-priced crops as it is in States farther south. However, <br />economic conditions are becoming increasingly favorable, and <br />irrigation farming in the High Plains of Colorado probably will <br />continue to increase. <br /> <br />Extensive development of ground water will undoubtedly <br />result in a depletion of the supply. The aquifer is recharged <br />only be precipitation. Of the normal annual precipitation (15 <br />to l8 inches), probably not lUOre than an inch reaches the aquifer. <br />The amount reaching the aquifer is approxirnatiUy the amount <br />being discharged by natural means along the boundaries of the <br />formation. Pumping will intercept only a small part of the <br />discharge which is very small compared to the potential with- <br />drawal rete for irrigation. A least I foot of water is needed <br />to irrigate most crops, and some crops, under certain conditions, <br />rElqUire several feet. Thus, withdrawalS of ground water from <br />the Ogallala are and will be largely from storage. Based on <br />extensively developed areas in other S tates, it seems likely <br />that extensive irrigation development in many of tr~ irrigable <br />areas of the High plains of Colorado might cause the water <br />table in those areas to decline at the rate of 5-10 feet per <br />year. <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />1- <br />