Well Regulation in the Basin

South Platte River Basin Task Force

June 29, 2007 Union Colony Civic Center Greeley,

Dick Wolfe, M.S., P.E.

www.water.state.co.us WhatWhat DefinesDefines thethe SouthSouth PlattePlatte RiverRiver System?System? • This physical system is defined by the geographic boundaries of the South Platte River and its tributaries in Colorado extending from the surface to the base of the alluvial ground water aquifers.

InflowInflow –– OutflowOutflow == ChangeChange inin StorageStorage

„ InflowInflow „ OutflowOutflow „ Precipitation (snow and „ Evapotranspiration rain) „ Evaporation „ Transmountain water „ Stream flow out of the imports system „ Return flows from „ Depletions associated bedrock ground water with human activities aquifers (NT, NNT) „ Recharge to bedrock „ Stream flow into the aquifers system „ Ground water outflow „ Ground water inflow ChangeChange inin StorageStorage

„ AlluvialAlluvial storagestorage capacitycapacity (3.4(3.4 MAFMAF unsaturatedunsaturated andand 13.613.6 MAFMAF saturated)saturated) „ ReservoirReservoir storagestorage capacitycapacity (1.77(1.77 MAFMAF activeactive andand 3.463.46 MAFMAF conditional)conditional) COLORADO HISTORICAL AVERAGE ANNUAL STREAM FLOWS 403,400

311,100 (acre feet) 111,800 E K L 414,300 A E A N T R 404,600 T A S 265,800 A M 99,500 E K L L I L E T E P 1,127,000 IT .

O C 1,531,000 L AC 875,600 N HE YAMPA LA PO 634,500 UD RE 334,400 158,800 TTE ST PLA . VRA TH 6 476,300 45,590 IN SOU 31,680 WHITE 54,760 404,400 P 229,200 85,540 NORTH FORK I DER C BOUL REPUBLICAN E 204,400 555,200 27,700 A 329,200 N 185,200 50,050

C BLUE E 33,760 413,200 1 N BEA ICA 28,750 EAGLE R 270,500 BL PU RE N RK 5 879,800 O. FORK O H F At Benkelman, NE ROARING 126,800 UT SO COLORADO FORK 58,146 2,799,000 88,051 63,038 4,500,000 279,70 RK FO 0 NO.

330,500

N I

547,300 A 1,872,000 943,000 T

505,600 N

528,200 U 69,750 2

O F D 699,200 WEST TOWARD PACIFIC OCEAN 8,867,450 af 8,867,450 OCEAN PACIFIC TOWARD WEST 219,800 O GUNNISON

L U O A N 125,100 RK af 1,373,000 OCEAN ATLANTIC TOWARD EAST R C AN E S 89,820

E 172,000 O TOMICHI A S P S S M 164,200

A A N P

R M A 26,930 H IG 4 G U G 3 E R L 24,933 E 394,300 HUERFANO 18,970 A 653,300 P 153,000 A E 47,020 H R 96,300 IS I 313,200 RI O O G P T RA A A 152,600 N G 593,600 H DE T R 7 A U U K

D P O I R S O McELMO R F

S 291,20 37,100 O A A

L R S O T 0 A 49,640 31,890 F D

N

A N I E I CONEJOS L & N P J 322,100 P A P U

S S S U A MANCO J N A

O LA - L M C I AN S H N A M A 268,600 A 235,800 36,890 25,580 446,900 94,180 670,100 173,700 + 291,200 TOTAL LEAVING COLORADO 10,240,500 af Prepared by the Hydrographic Branch (2003 Revision) OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER Historic averages obtained from USGS Water-Data Report CO-02 COLORADO DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES State of Colorado, Division of Water Resources, Division 1, South Platte River Drainage.

# 76 SEDGWICK Logan Sedgwick 3 Priority Dates 48 NUNN # Of Controlling Larimer 64 STERLING # HOLYOKE Water Rights FORT CO LLINS # # Weld Phillips 4 GREELEY # Early 1860’s # ESTES PARK

FORT MORGAN # 65 Late 1860’s YUMA To Early 5 KEENESBURG Morgan # WRAY Boulder # # 1870’s # 2 Yuma BOULDER Washington Early 1880’s 6 1 Adams Gilpin Late 1880’s BENNE TT # To Mid-1890’s 7 # Clear Creek Denver 9 Arapahoe Jefferson 8 CASTLE ROCK Lincoln # Kit Carson 80 Elbert FLAGLER Douglas # 49

Park 23 El Paso WOODLAND PARK # Teller Cheyenne # Cities Division 1 Boundary N Division 1 Districts Division 1 Counties W E

Main Rivers S South Platte River Compact April 27, 1923

Key Provisions • Divides South Platte River Basin into “Upper Section” and “Lower Section • South Platte River Compact applies only in “Lower Section” (Washington County line to State Line, District 64) • Flow of river is measured flow of Julesburg gage plus inflow below gage and above Western Canal diversion • Between April 1 and October 15, Colorado shall not permit diversions with appropriation dates junior to June 14, 1897 when the flow of the river is less than 120 cfs unless the diversions are augmented • Colorado has the right to the full and uninterrupted use of the waters of the South Platte River from October 16 to March 31

SouthSouth PlattePlatte RiverRiver BasinBasin HydrologyHydrology

„ NativeNative flowsflows forfor totaltotal basinbasin estimatedestimated toto bebe 1,400,0001,400,000 acreacre--feetfeet annuallyannually byby thethe USGSUSGS „ TransmountainTransmountain waterwater providesprovides approximatelyapproximately anotheranother 400,000400,000 acreacre--feetfeet perper yearyear „ GroundGround waterwater pumpingpumping fromfrom highhigh capacitycapacity alluvialalluvial wellswells locatedlocated alongalong thethe SouthSouth PlattePlatte RiverRiver areare estimatedestimated toto provideprovide overover 500,000500,000 acreacre--feetfeet annuallyannually „ TotalTotal annualannual surfacesurface waterwater diversionsdiversions equalequal approximatelyapproximately 4,000,0004,000,000 acreacre--feetfeet SouthSouth PlattePlatte RiverRiver BasinBasin IrrigationIrrigation • Approximately 1 million irrigated acres – Approximately 18% is served by ground water only – Approximately 27% is served by a combination of surface and ground water – Approximately 55% is served by surface water only Irrigated Area Along the South Platte River

Sedgwick

Logan

Phillip s

Weld

Morgan

Washington Yuma

Clippeddiv1counties.shp Adams

Denver Arapahoe N n W E

S Linco ln TRANSMOUNTAIN DIVERSIONS OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER 1 2 3 R VE 4 RI STEAMBOAT 5 7 YA 6 SPRINGS 6 MPA R 8 IV E ER T T 9 A L P 41 TO BASIN 10 SOUTH 40. DIVIDE HIGHLINE FEEDER DITCH 42 GREELEY 41. SARVIS DITCH 43 TO SOUTH PLATTE BASIN 42. STILLWATER DITCH 43. DOME DITCH 1. WILSON SUPPLY DITCH 44. REDLANDS POWER CANAL 11 2. DEADMAN DITCH 1 3. BOB CREEK DITCH 4. COLUMBINE DITCH 13 12 5. LARAMIE POUDRE TUNNEL 6. SKYLINE DITCH 14 DENVER 7. CAMERON PASS DITCH 5 20 19 18 IVER 22 21 8. MICHIGAN DITCH O R GLENWOOD RAD 9. GRAND RIVER DITCH OLO SPRINGS C 15 10. ALVA B. ADAMS TUNNEL 23 11. MOFFAT WATER TUNNEL GRAND JUNCTION 39 16 12. BERTHOUD PASS DITCH 17 13. STRAIGHT CREEK TUNNEL 40 24 14. VIDLER TUNNEL 15. HAROLD D. ROBERTS TUNNEL 16. BOREAS PASS DITCH 44 17. TUNNEL

R DELTA 4 E IV 2 R TO GUNNISON RIVER BASIN 25 ON 36. RED MOUNTAIN DITCH GUNNIS 37. CARBON LAKE DITCH PUEBLO TO ARKANSAS BASIN A 38. MINERAL POINT DITCH MONTROSE RKA 18. COLUMBINE DITCH NSA 39. LEON TUNNEL S R 19. EWING DITCH IVE R 20. WURTZ DITCH

D 28 21. HOMESTAKE TUNNEL OL 29 22. CHARLES H. BOUSTEAD TUNNEL OR 23. BUSK-IVANHOE TUNNEL

E 24. TWIN LAKES TUNNEL S

R 38 25. LARKSPUR DITCH

I V 37 26. HUDSON BRANCH DITCH E 36 26 R 3 27. MEDANO PASS DITCH RI 27 O GR AN 30 DE ALAMOSA 31 32 33 7 TO RIO GRANDE BASIN DURANGO 34 28. TARBELL DITCH 29. TABOR DITCH 30. WEMINUCHE PASS DITCH 35 31. PINE RIVER-WEMINUCHE PASS DITCH 32. WILLIAMS CREEK-SQUAW PASS DITCH 33. DON LA FONT DITCHES 1 & 2 Updated June 2005 34. TREASURE PASS DITCH 35. SAN JUAN-CHAMA PROJECT Division 1 Diversions 5,000,000

4,500,000

4,000,000

3,500,000

3,000,000

2,500,000 Total Diversion 2,000,000 Transmountain Diversions Amount (Ac-Ft) Amount

1,500,000

1,000,000

500,000

-

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 198 198 198 198 6 7 8 9 0 198 198 198 199 199 1 2 3 4 5 199 199 199 199 199 6 199 199 199 200 200 Year 200 200 200 200 200 South Platte River at Kersey Irrigation Water Year

3500

3000

2500

2000

Flow (cfs) 1500

1000

500

0 Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

Historic* Mean Flow Historic* Min Flow 2006-2007 Mean Flow 2005-2006 Mean Flow *1901-2005 South Platte River at Julesburg Irrigation Water Year

1600

1400

1200

1000

800 Flow (cfs)

600

400

200

0 Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Historic* Mean Flow Historic* Min Flow 2006-2007 Mean Flow 2005-2006 Mean Flow *1902-2005 South Platte River Basin Water Use

2005 Surface Water Use Breakdown

Augmentation Recharge 7% 6% Industrial 4%

Municipal 21%

Irrigation 62% GeneralGeneral WellWell InformationInformation „ ApproximatelyApproximately 9,0009,000 decreeddecreed highhigh capacitycapacity wellswells inin SouthSouth PlattePlatte RiverRiver basinbasin andand itsits tributariestributaries onon record.record. LessLess inin actualactual existence.existence. „ HaveHave inventoriedinventoried approximatelyapproximately 7,4007,400 highhigh capacitycapacity wellswells „ StillStill verifyingverifying useuse ofof remainingremaining 1,6001,600 wellswells (verification(verification isis startingstarting nearnear thethe riverriver andand movingmoving awayaway fromfrom traditionaltraditional irrigatedirrigated areas;areas; itit isis estimatedestimated thatthat 80%80% ofof thesethese wellswells areare inin existence,existence, butbut onlyonly 15%15% areare beingbeing used)used) GeneralGeneral WellWell InformationInformation

„ ForFor 2007,2007, thethe anticipatedanticipated numbernumber ofof DivisionDivision 11 SubstituteSubstitute WaterWater SupplySupply PlansPlans ((““SWSPsSWSPs””)) withwith wellswells thatthat willwill operateoperate inin 20072007 isis approximatelyapproximately 125.125. (This(This onlyonly includesincludes SWSPsSWSPs perper 3737--9292--308,308, C.R.S.,C.R.S., withwith wells.)wells.) ApproximatelyApproximately 1,3001,300 wellswells areare includedincluded inin thesethese 125125 plans.plans. „ TheThe numbernumber ofof wellswells operatingoperating inin decreeddecreed augmentationaugmentation plansplans inin DivisionDivision 11 isis approximatelyapproximately 3,700.3,700.

ChangesChanges inin WaterWater Supply,Supply, Availability,Availability, UseUse andand AdministrationAdministration

„ Drought/climate change „ Earlier calls because of well use limits „ Development of recharge projects „ Increased reuse of transmountain diversions „ Lining of gravel pits below Denver and on tributaries to recover reusable supplies (pumping or exchange to cities) „ Increased value of water and drought conditions have led to less cooperation and tighter administration, for example, no more “Gentleman’s Agreement (historical agreement between reservoir operators to allow upstream, out-of-priority storage during winter fill season). Call Comparison (District 1 Calls Senior to Administration No. 44698, 5-26-1972) 35 1950-2002

30 2003-2006

25

20

15 Days of Call

10

5

0

l y y h i y e y t r r ber er ar c pr Jul be e u uar ar A Ma Jun ob em emb M em ct Jan Augus O Febr Nov Dec Sept Month

Note: Free River 4/25-6/12, 2007 South Platte Recharge

000 250 Over 200,000 AF in 2007 000 200

000 150 Total Recharge

000 100

00 District 1 500 District 2 District 64 0 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Year

Farmers Independent Ditch Recharge Site NewNew DirectDirect andand IndirectIndirect ReuseReuse ofof FullyFully ConsumableConsumable SuppliesSupplies

• Denver Water Reuse Plant (12 cfs presently, 68 cfs eventually) • Other reuse projects by Broomfield, FRICO, ECCV and United Water • Pump Installation in Chatfield Reservoir to Recover Environmental Releases from Strontia Springs Reservoir (30-60 cfs) NewNew DirectDirect andand IndirectIndirect ReuseReuse ofof FullyFully ConsumableConsumable SuppliesSupplies

• Claims by Denver, Aurora, and others to exchange or use reusable lawn returns (>15 cfs) • New lined gravel pit storage downstream of Denver to pick up reusable supplies to exchange or use directly (estimated over 100,000 acre-feet within next 10 years) • Calpine (Rocky Mtn. Energy Center) 3,000 ac- ft/yr for treatment plant (average 4 cfs) GravelGravel PitPit ReservoirReservoir SitesSites AlongAlong SouthSouth PlattePlatte RiverRiver FarmersFarmers RespondRespond toto ChangesChanges

„ IncreasedIncreased useuse ofof surfacesurface waterwater suppliessupplies especiallyespecially earlyearly inin thethe yearyear duedue toto costcost ofof runningrunning wellswells „ IncreasedIncreased useuse ofof reservoirsreservoirs forfor irrigationirrigation „ IncreasedIncreased installationinstallation ofof sprinklerssprinklers (reduces(reduces returnreturn flows)flows) „ ChangeChange inin croppingcropping patternspatterns (more(more winterwinter wheat,wheat, alfalfa,alfalfa, etc.)etc.) FarmersFarmers RespondRespond toto ChangesChanges

„ IncreasedIncreased useuse ofof thethe SouthSouth PlattePlatte RiverRiver aquiferaquifer forfor retimingretiming ofof depletionsdepletions (recharge(recharge ponds,ponds, augmentationaugmentation wells,wells, rechargerecharge wells)wells) „ IncreasedIncreased useuse ofof reusablereusable effluenteffluent andand reservoirreservoir releasesreleases forfor replacementreplacement „ IncreasedIncreased useuse ofof surfacesurface waterwater rightsrights inin sprinklersprinkler irrigationirrigation systemssystems „ IncreasedIncreased numbernumber ofof augmentationaugmentation plansplans andand SWSPsSWSPs –– subjectsubject toto waterwater courtcourt andand StateState EngineerEngineer processes;processes; moremore activeactive inin waterwater courtcourt PlanPlan forfor AugmentationAugmentation

AA planplan toto replacereplace outout ofof prioritypriority depletionsdepletions causedcaused byby aa juniorjunior waterwater rightright toto seniorsenior waterwater rights.rights. TheThe replacementsreplacements areare mademade withwith anotheranother sourcesource ofof water.water. DepletionsDepletions mustmust bebe replacedreplaced inin time,time, placeplace andand amountamount inin orderorder protectprotect seniorsenior waterwater rights.rights. TheThe applicationapplication forfor approvalapproval ofof aa planplan forfor augmentationaugmentation inin waterwater courtcourt allowsallows othersothers thethe opportunityopportunity toto expressexpress theirtheir concernsconcerns regardingregarding itsits abilityability toto protectprotect theirtheir waterwater rights.rights. TheThe EndEnd

Questions?

TheThe bestbest thingthing aboutabout thethe futurefuture isis thatthat itit comescomes onlyonly oneone dayday atat aa timetime AbrahamAbraham LincolnLincoln –– Vallecito Creek

Fourmile Creek PresentedPresented by:by: DickDick Wolfe,Wolfe, M.S.,M.S., P.E.P.E. AssistantAssistant StateState EngineerEngineer

(303)(303) 866866--35813581 ext.ext. 82418241 [email protected]@state.co.us www.water.state.co.uswww.water.state.co.us PossiblePossible IssuesIssues forfor ConsiderationConsideration byby thethe TaskTask ForceForce „ MoreMore flexibleflexible wintertimewintertime administrationadministration ofof reservoirreservoir callscalls byby thethe StateState andand DivisionDivision Engineers;Engineers; aggregateaggregate replacementreplacement ofof winterwinter depletions;depletions; „ ForgivenessForgiveness ofof postpost--pumpingpumping depletiondepletion ““debtdebt”” associatedassociated withwith somesome periodperiod ofof pastpast wellwell use;use; „ GrandfatherGrandfather wellswells priorprior toto aa certaincertain datedate (e.g.,(e.g., ““19691969 ActAct””);); „ RevisitRevisit withwith NorthernNorthern ColoradoColorado WaterWater ConservancyConservancy DistrictDistrict andand otherother affectedaffected stakeholdersstakeholders thethe useuse ofof ColoradoColorado--BigBig ThompsonThompson ProjectProject waterwater asas aa permanentpermanent augmentationaugmentation sourcesource (currently(currently prohibitedprohibited byby policypolicy adoptedadopted byby NorthernNorthern BoardBoard ofof Directors);Directors); PossiblePossible IssuesIssues forfor ConsiderationConsideration byby thethe TaskTask ForceForce „ EncourageEncourage andand helphelp thethe lowerlower reachesreaches ofof thethe SouthSouth PlattePlatte RiverRiver toto developdevelop waterwater districtsdistricts and/orand/or waterwater authoritiesauthorities soso thatthat thethe waterwater usersusers cancan bebe competitivecompetitive inin attemptingattempting toto purchasepurchase augmentationaugmentation waterwater supplies;supplies; „ InvestigateInvestigate growinggrowing alternativealternative cropscrops includingincluding drydry--landland farming;farming; „ InvestigateInvestigate potentialpotential expansionsexpansions ofof historicalhistorical useuse byby seniorsenior surfacesurface waterwater rights;rights; „ EvaluateEvaluate economiceconomic optionsoptions suchsuch asas subsidies,subsidies, buyouts,buyouts, oror programsprograms suchsuch asas CREPCREP andand EQIP;EQIP; andand „ OtherOther legislativelegislative options.options.