WSP07965

• File Number: 8446
• Description: Cache La Poudre Project
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 7/1/1983
• Title: Cache La Poudre Project Study and Related Correspondence
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

Mountain National Park. This high mount'ain area, comprising only about 15
percent of the upper basin drainage area, produces about 50 percent of the
native runoff from the upper basin.

Transmountain diversions from the drainages west of the basin augment the
native flows in the basin. These "foreigp waters., which form a significant
contribution to the total water supply in ithe basin, also originate primarily
from snowmelt in adjacent high mountain wa~ersheds.

H. PRESENT WATER USE

The major use of water in the Cache la Poudre River basin is for irrigated
agriculture. There is a small amount of irrigated hay and pasture in the
upper basin; however, the developed agriculture is primarily in the lower
basin. Although there is some dryland far*ing, agriculture in the lower basin
is largely limited to irrigation farming' in lower lying areas accessible to
diversion of streamflows. Presently, ~here are about 225,000 acres of
irrigated agriculture in the service area of the Cache laPoudre River.

The service area is comprised of lands in the lower basin and some
adjacent areas to the east which are served by diversions from the Cache la
poudre River. The service area has widely diversified agriculture including
native hay, alfalfa, corn, sugar beets" potatoes, beans, barley, oats and
winter wheat. The principal agricultural industries are general farming,
livestock feeding, and dairying. Alfal~a and corn are usually raised for
consumption in the area by feeder cattle a~d sheep.

Rapid population growth in recent year,s has mac'je municipal and industrial
water needs in the lower basin an increasingly important aspect of water
use. The metropolitan areas of Greeley and Fort Collins are the major
municipal and industrial water users; however, smaller towns such as Windsor
are experiencing significant population gFowth with an accompanying increase
in water use. Establishment and expansion of industries such as Ideal Cement
Company, Eastman Kodak, and Hewlett-Packar~, along with the growth of Colorado
State university and the university of ))/orthern Colorado have contributed
substantially to this overall population growth.

I. WA'l'BR USE BIl'1'I'1'IES AND EXISTING FACILIfIBS

1. Inventory of Entities and Bxi8ti~~ Facilities

Major water use entities in the basin are listed on Table 11-4. As
I
shown in the table, the majority of these lwater users have joined together to
form the Cache la poudre Water Users A,sociation. 'I'his organization was
formed to coordinate and facilitate the b~neficial use of water resources in
the basin. The majority of these entities are also participants in the
Northern COlorado Water Conservancy District which is the operating entity for
the Colorado-Big Thompson Project facilities. A municipal sub-district of the
Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District will administer the use of Windy-
Gap Project flows through the Colorado-Big Thompson Project facilities. The
Windy-Gap Project is presently under construction.
j

II-l0

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

I
I
I
I