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11 ~ Jan 49 Feb Mar 46 47 Apr May 72 48 Jun Jul 52 81 Aug 72 Sep 53 Oct 48 No" Dec 52 57 'I The maximum storage capacity within the District is approximately 70-80 thousand acre-feet. This figure has probably' changed some through the years due to enlargements and siltation. Looking at the changes in volumes of water stored in Water District 2 reservoirs, a rise can be observed up to around 1950-52. From 1952 on, there was a sharp drop ending in 1958-59 and from that time on there has been a significant increase in water stored. The moving averages for the 1st of May show that the peak of the 50's has not been reached to date. In contrast to this, the amounts left in storage at the end of the irri- gation season on October 1, have increased recently above the peak of 1951. At the end of the irrigation season there is an increasing amount of water remaining in surface storage reservoirs compared to earlier years. Reservoirs outside of Water District 2 .~ For the reservoirs of the Henrylyn Irrigation District.(Horse Creek, Propsect and lord Reservoirs) ~uch the same observations ap ab?ve can be made. The amounts involved are about one-third of those for the reservoirs of Water District 2. The average contents through the 32 years was about 9.3 thousand acre-feet with the fOllowing'monthly averages and ranges in thousands of acre-feet. . .. Jan feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Ave. 7 9 11 13 14 14 12 9 5 3 4 5 Rng. 16 26 20 22 23 23 23 20 15 12 13 16 It should be noted here that the records of Olds Reservoir are not included in this group of reservoirs since it is used entirely for ground- water recharge and its contents on any particular date has little meaning. Analysis of Groundwater Situation ~! Development of groundwater for irrigation within Water District 2 has been extensive. The alluvium in the main valley of the South Platte River as well as that in the Beebe Draw area provides a productive and readily recharged groundwater reservoir. The aquifer varies from 1 to 3 miles in width from Denver downstream to near Platteville. At this point the aquifer widens to 4 to 6 miles to the area at which the Beebe Draw alluvium joins the main stem alluvium. Most of the aquifer and thus most of the high capacity wells are. located below irrigation ditches from which most of their recharge is derived. The alluvium of the Beebe Draw area is I to l~ miles in width from Barr Lake to Lower Latham Reservoir. The valley fill deposits in Beebe Draw average about 85 feet in thickness whereas that of the main stem is as thick as 125 feet. '..