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Summary <br />The Basin ground -water resources are being mined beyond the rate of recharge as <br />shown in summary Table 7-1. The total proven economically recoverable ground water <br />within the High Plains, Dakota, Cheyenne, and upper portion of Dockum aquifer units is <br />estimated to be 12,385,000 acre-feet. Based upon the Phase 1 Study's estimate of <br />annual withdrawal of 220,000 acre-feet, the life of the "proven" portion of the aquifer <br />system is estimated to be approximately 56 years. The anticipated life of the aquifer <br />system is increased if the estimated possible portion of the Dockum aquifer unit is added <br />to the overall aquifer system reservoir. The possible portion of the Dockum aquifer is <br />estimated to contain approximately 9,633,000 acre-feet of recoverable ground water. By <br />combining the four aquifer unit reserves of approximately 12, 835,000 acre-feet with the <br />possible portion of the Dockum reserves of 9,633,000 acre-feet, the combined total is <br />estimated to be 22,018,000 acre-feet. Based upon the Phase 1 Study's estimate of <br />annual withdrawal of 220,000 acre-feet, the life of the aquifer system is estimated to be <br />approximately 100 years. The cost of pumping water from the lower portion of the <br />Dockum aquifer unit may prove to be too expensive to pump for irrigation purposes. The <br />anticipated life expectancy of each aquifer will be dependent upon management choices <br />regarding future development of these finite resources. <br />VI 1-4 <br />99-028.003\Phase 2 Report\SHP GW Resources <br />