WSP05722

• File Number: 8027
• Description: Section D General Correspondence-Federal Agencies
• State: CO
• Date: 11/13/1968
• Title: US Department of Interior-United States Geological Survey Water Resources Division and Quality of Water Branch-1967-1968-Agenda Item 2d-Report of the USGS Water Resources Investigations in Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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AGENDA ITEM //2d

REPORT OF TIlE U,S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY~'
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WATER RESOURCES INVESTIGATIONS IN COLORADO ~

November 13, 1968

l)u r .1.:1:. t n.'pnrt to the l\o:lnJ, mad(~ S<.~ptcmhcr 5, 1968, covercu
only on~ ""pect of the Color"uo lli,;trict's activities. Therefore
this report will summarize significant progress on our activities
thus far in fiscal year 1969. Several new activities have been
initiated, or are in the proposal stage.

An agreement was signed with the State Department of Highways
to initiate a study of magnitudes and frequencies of floods in
small watersheds. The study will continue for about 10 years and
will yield information of benefit to the design of waterway openings,
such as bridges and culverts in the State's highway system.

Another project that was initiated and completed was done for
the Secretary of Interior's program on promoting development of oil
shale in the Piceance Creek Basin. The information obtained from
the study sponsored by the Colorado Water Conservation Board was
used to estimate the magnitude of water problems and potential
supplies for the development of the mineral resources. A summary
of the results of this special endeavor will be iacorporated in a
Hydrologic Atlas now in preparation by the Colorado District. The
atlas is scheduled for publication during calendar year 1969.

The Survey has also been active in drafting proposals for studies
related to water quality. One proposal that has been completed is
for a cooperative study between Colorado State University and the
Survey to investigate techniques for estimating degradation of water
quality in the High Plains of Colorado.

Another proposal being drafted is a cooperative effort among
Colorado Water Conservation Board, Federal Water Pollution Control
Administration, Soil Conservation Service, Colorado State University,
and the 8ureau of Reclamation. The objective of this proposed project
is to determine how applications of irrigation water can be varied
to reduce the discharge of salts to the South Platte River.

The objective of a third proposal is to study the feasibility
of using deep surface strata in Colorado for the disposal of liquid
wastes. The Survey is participating with Colorado State University
and the Colorado School of Mines on this endeavor.

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