WSP06035

• File Number: 8460.500
• Description: Platte River Recovery Plan - SPDSS Studies ‎(see also 8483)‎
• Basin: South Platte
• Date: 1/1/1998
• Author: Colorado State Univ.
• Title: South Platte Consumptive Use ‎(CU)‎ Model User Manual - Version 1.1
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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Introduction

1.0

Introduction

Water managers in the South Platte River Basin need an efficient process for accurately computing field
and fann Consumptive Use (CU) and thereby detennine augmentation requirements for groundwater wells.
Based on surface water supplies and consumptive use estimates, managers can estimate the CU of
groundwater and the depletions to river flows that need augmentation. Input for the CU Model can be
developed through the GIS themes and spatial analysis features of the South Platte Mapping and Analysis
Program (SPMAP) described in SPMAP User Manual. The CU model can also be used as a stand-alone
program to do monthly calculations using the Blaney-Criddle or Kimberly-Penman techniques for
computing CU.
The CU Model described in this manual is one component of the South Platte research project being
worked on by the Integrated Decision Support (IDS) Group (a research group at Colorado State University).
The goals of this project are to improve the quantity and quality of spatial data and modeling capabilities
available to water users in the South Platte River Basin. Water managers will be able to use the tools
developed by this research effort to determine the amount of water currently being used in the South Platte,
the source of the water (surface water or groundwater), and the impacts that this water use has on the river.
An advisory committee has been formed called the "South Platte Advisory Committee" with the
following representatives:

. Jon Altenhofen - Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and the South Platte Lower River
Group, Inc.

. Ray Bennett - State Engineers Office (Denver)

. James Hall. State Engineers Office (Greeley)

. Forrest Leaf - Central Colorado Water Conservancy District

. Jack Odor - Groundwater Appropriators of the South Platte

This committee has met regularly since mid-1995 to evaluate currently available data, data development
needs, and water resource modeling strategies for the South Platte River Basin. The South Platte Advisory
Committee has been promoting "modular" development based on a data-centered approach. This means that
data and models should be generic and developed in such a way that all modeling efforts can use the same
data. Since 1997, efforts have focused on developing the CU Model for the South Platte.

Version 1.1

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