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<br />I - 2 - <br />' <br /> The discharge of the South Platte River ranges from 10 <br />' to 7,500 cfs during normal years. Figure 2 shows the daily <br /> variations of flow in the river near Balzac, Colorado during <br /> water year 1961. The streamflow peaks during late spring <br /> and early summer as a result of snowmelt in the Front Range. <br /> During the remainder of the summer the flow in the river <br /> consists mainly of irrigation return flow. During the winter <br /> and early spring the flow is comprised of ground water <br />' discharged into the river. Periodic rainstorms contribute <br /> runoff to the river during the non-winter months. <br /> T4ater supplies available from the South Platte River <br /> are fully appropriated under the doctrine of appropriation <br />' practised in Colorado. The flow of the river is subject to <br /> diversion by ditches and reservoirs located above and below <br />' the dredging area. <br /> Ground Water <br />' Ground water is available from the deposits of alluvium <br /> which underlie the South Platte River. These deposit:a are <br />' S0 to 75 feet thick in the vicinity of the dredging area <br /> and capable of yielding several thousand gallons of water <br />' per minute to properly constructed wells. <br /> The shallow deposits of alluvium are underlain b}~ up <br /> to 5,000 feet of the Pierre Shale Formation. This formation <br /> is unable to yield appreciable quantities of water to wells <br />' and its thickness limits the feasibility of developing <br /> supplies from underlying aquifers such as the Dakota Sandstone. <br />Ground water in the shallow deposits of alluvium is <br />hydraulically connected to the South Platte River and as <br />such is considered to be subject to administration under the <br />doctrine of appropriation. <br /> <br /> <br />Leonard Rice Consulting Walei Engineers, lnc 15 <br />1 <br />