Presented by Ralf Topper, CPG

30th Colorado Water Workshop

July 28, 2005

…… The value of reservoir water and ground water is clearly realized, and we all recognize the need for

additional storage…….

Sustainable water management relies on the ability to store water.But the opportunities for construction of large new reservoirs are dwindling.

Ground water will play a critical role in meeting future demands through conjunctive use strategies.

TIMING OF SUPPLY / DEMANDTIMING OF SUPPLY / DEMAND

Demand

The Hydrologic CycleColorado Supreme Court Justice, Greg Hobbs

Sea to the river, feed meRiver to the aquifer, fill meAquifer to the earth, hold meEarth to the clouds, seed meClouds to the wind, stir meWind to the sea, rinse me

Earth to the aquiferAquifer to the riverRiver to the seaSea to the windWind to the cloudsClouds to the earth

Seed meStir meRinse meFeed meFill meHold me

The Hydrologic Cycle

Surface Water / Ground Water Interaction

High Ground Water = Flow to Stream

Low Ground Water = Flow to Aquifer

AUGMENTATION CONCEPT

It has been locally implemented in Colorado since 1940 and the subject of numerous state and federal studies.

YES!YES!

Can We Store Water Underground?Can We Store Water Underground?

ACTIVE ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE IN COLORADOACTIVE ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE IN COLORADO

Augmentation in the Lower South Platte River Basin

Conjunctive Use in the San Luis Valley

ASR in the Denver

Basin Small Miscellaneous SitesRegulate Water Supply and Manage Water Quality

By Implementing Artificial RechargeBy Implementing Artificial Recharge

How Do We StoreHow Do We Store

Water Underground – Water Underground –

SURFACE INFILTRATION

DRY

SUBSURFACE INFILTRATIONSUBSURFACE INFILTRATION

DIRECT INJECTION CONFINED AQUIFER

BENEFITS OF AQUIFER STORAGEBENEFITS OF AQUIFER STORAGE

Minimal or No Evaporative Losses

Minimal Environmental Impacts

Less Permitting Issues

Greater Location Opportunities

Significantly Lower Capital Costs

Shorter Implementation Timeframe

Ability to Stage Construction to Meet Demand

OBJECTIVES OF AQUIFER STORAGEOBJECTIVES OF AQUIFER STORAGE

Management of Water Supplies(seasonal, long-term, emergency)

Legal Obligations and Water Rights(augmentation, interstate agreements)

Manage/Mitigate Water Quality(soil-aquifer treatment, water reuse/treated effluent, industrial controls)

Aquifer Restoration(water levels, subsidence)

Environmental Protection(instream habitat, species recovery, wetlands maintenance/enhancement)

Aquifer Storage PotentialAquifer Storage Potential

Based on Aquifer Properties: Areal extent

Depth

Saturated Thickness

Hydraulic Conductivity

Storage Coefficient

Head Freeboard

San LuisValley

Lower South Platte

Bijou Creek

Lower Arkansas

Big SandyCreek

KiowaCreek

Top CandidatesUnconsolidated Aquifers

Top CandidatesConsolidated Aquifers

WATER SUPPLY VS. DEMANDWATER SUPPLY VS. DEMAND

SUPPLY > DEMAND

SUPPLY < DEMAND

Artificial recharge technologies are proven and have been implemented in Colorado on an individual basis.

Sustainable water management relies on the ability to store water. A viable alternative to construction of new surface water reservoirs is the storage of water below ground in aquifers.

Favorable hydrogeologic conditions exist in unconsolidated and consolidated aquifers to implement large-scale artificial recharge projects throughout Colorado

In addition to managing water supplies, aquifer storage projects can meet a number of water resource objectives.