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resour~e investigation of the Arkansas River within the State of Colorado. Topics discussed in the report include a general basin description, development of basin water resources, conveyance and storage facilities, streamflow investigations, surface water diversions, groundwater pumping, water requirements, and transmountain water. The analyses conducted during preparation of the report included determination of the headgate requirements and consumptive use of irrigation water for various canals from Pueblo to the stateline, a frequency analysis of historic ditch diversions' for the ~arious canals, an analysis of ditch diversions versus streamflows at the Canon City gage, and an analysis of streamflows at the Canon City gage versus streamflows at the stateline. The report determined: . . . that, in 1950, 31,000 acre feet were pumped from wells, and in 1964, the estimated amount is 227,000 acrefeet. The estimated average pumpage for the 1940-1949 period is 10,6000 acre feet per year, for the 1950-1959 period 83,000 acre feet per year and for the 1960-1964 period 168,200 acre feet per year. At present, there are more than 1,400 high capacity irrigation wells under the ditches between Pueblo and the stateline. These wells have an estimated total pumping capacity of about 1,770 cubic feet per second. If this rate could be maintained, the pumping capability would be 106,000 acre feet per month. It has been estimated by the U.S. Geological Survey that 80 per cent of the water pumped is consumptively used and that 20 per cent returns to the ground water. The deple- tion of the water resQurces in the Arkansas Valley by pumping, at 80 per cent efficiency, would average about 8,500 acrefeet for the 1940-1949 period, 66,000 acre feet for the 1950-1959 period and 135,000 acrefeet for the 1960-1964 period. Id., p. ii. The two engineering firms further concluded that: -8- , ~- ~.~