WSP05388

• File Number: 8449
• Description: Platte River Projects
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Date: 9/9/1980
• Author: USGS
• Title: Hydrologic Analysis of the Proposed Badger-Beaver Creeks Artificial-Recharge Project, Morgan County, Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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in 1939." Pumping continued to increase, according to Bjorklund and Brown
{1957), who reported that 109 wells were pumped in 19~6 and 138 wells were
pumped in 1950. The increased pumping began creating drawdown problems as
early as 1950. Bjorklund und Bro"1n (1957, p. 50) reported, "The decline of
'the water table is more critical in the Beaver Creek valley than in any other:
part of the South Platte River valley project area. . ." Pumping apparently
continued to increase unti I dra",dO\"ns caused abandonment of numerous wells
and withdrawal of land from irrigation.

Proposed Artificial-Recharge Project

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In April 1976, the Badger and Beaver Water Conservancy District was
formed under the provisions of Article 45, Title 37, Colorado Revised Stat-
utes, 1973. The purpose of this conservancy district was to promote a proj-
ect to artificially recharge the two alluvial aquifers in an attempt to again
achieve the historical pumping rates and return lands to their previous ir-'
rigated conditions. Although nO formal engineering designs have been devel-
oped, a preliminary plan has been developed. According to the plan, water
would be diverted from the South Platte River at the headgate of the existing
Bijou Canal just west of Canton, Colo., in Weld County (fig. 2). Water would
flO\., through the Bijou Canal to about the mouth of San Arroyo Creek south of'
Griffin, Colo., in ~Iorgan County, where it ,"ould be diverted into a ne\'1 canal
to be constructed. This new canal would cross the channel of Badger Creek at
about the sect ion I ine between Tps. 1 and 2 IL, R. 57 W., where some "'ater
,.,ould be released down the channel of .Badger Creek. About 2.5 mi downstream,
water in Badger Creek would be diverted to another canal to be constructed
east of the creek. This canal would trend northward along the edge of the
sand hi lIs and terminate about 2 mi north of the section line between Tps. 2
and 3 N., R. 57 W.

Water not diverted into Badger Creek would be pumped into a lined canal
,leading to the channel of Beaver Creek near the southern Horgan County line,
~here the ",ater would be released into the channel of Beaver Creek. About
:1 Jili dO\-lnstream, part of the ,"ater \-,ould be diverted into a new canal to be
constructed west of the creek. This canal would trend northward through the
sand hills and terminate about 2.5 mi south of Brush (fig. 2). 'In addition,'
another canal may be constructed to carry water farther east where it could
be released to the channels of Buck Creek and an unnamed draw (fig. 2).

It is also proposed to create numerous ponds throughout this recharge-'
distribution system by either instal ling check dams along the canals and,
channels or by creating turnouts to the many natural depressions, particu-:
:Iarly in the sand hills. These proposed ponds primarily would enhance the;
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environment relative to wildl ife and waterfowl. Water would seep from the
canals, stream channels, and ponds, and infiltrate the underlying aquifers.:
"he desired result of this infiltration would be to recharge the aquifers:
~ufficiently to accommodate increased ground-water pumping during the irriga-:
,tion season. I
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