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 a filing in the District Court in and for Water Division No.1, State:
:of Colorado, the conservancy district has requested a water right of!
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240,000 acre-ft annually to be made senior in right to fil ing 366 for the,
proposed Narrows Reservoir and also has asked for an alternative point of!
diversion for the 355.025 ft3/s decreed rights of existing wel Is to the,
headgate of Bijou Ditch. On the basis of these water-right filings and thei
typical flows in the South Platte River, the conservancy district proposes to:
divert about 90,000 acre-ft per year into the canal system.

Purpose and Scope

In February 1978, the U.S. Fish and Wildl ife Service entered into a Mem-'
orandum of Agreement with the Badger and Beaver Water Conservancy District.'
Under the terms of this agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildl ife Service would
finance a hydrologic analysis of the proposed project because of the poten-
tial benefits to wildlife that could accrue through development of wetlands
from ground-water augmentation projects. It was believed that artificial
recharge could become widely used in the South Platte River basin of north-
eastern Colorado. The U.S. Fish and Wildl ife Service determined that through
this study it would gain a better understanding about the direct and indirect
impacts of artificial recharge on fish and wildl ife.

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In March 1978, the U.S. Fish and Hildlife Service agreed to fund an 18-
month study to be conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey of the hydrologic
aspects of the proposed artificial-recharge project. The study had four pri-
mary objectives: (1) The availability of water for diversion from the South
Platte River; (2) the del ivery and recharge of the diverted water; (3) the
effects of the artificial recharge on the ground-water system; and (4) the
total hydrologic impact of the proposed project on the South Platte River
basin. The study was to consider only the general hydrologic as?ects of the
proposed project and was not intended to consider any site-specific hydraulic
conditions, engineering-design problems, or economic considerations.
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At the request of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a meeting was heldl
on March 16, 1979, at which the U.S. Geological Survey presented preliminary:
results of the study to representatives of the U.S. Fish and Hildlife Service'
and the Badger and Beaver Water Conservancy District. On May 23, 1979, the:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service notified the Badger and Beaver Hater:
Conservancy District that it could not participate in the wildlife-management'
part of the recharge plan because preliminary results of the study indicated'
that the project would significantly deplete flows in the South Platte River.:
According to the U.S, Fish and Wildlife Service, such depletion could have:
adverse effects on habitat for whooping cranes or other migratory birds along!
'the Platte River in Nebraska. However, all parties agreed that the results:
of the study should be published. !
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