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Feasibility of Aquifer Storage and Recovery in the Upper Colorado River Basin

Feasibility of Aquifer Storage and Recovery in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Presented by: Western Water & Land, Inc . Grand Junction, Colorado. Colorado’s Water Future. Current projections indicate Colorado population growth will double by 2050

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Feasibility of Aquifer Storage and Recovery in the Upper Colorado River Basin

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  1. Feasibility of Aquifer Storage and Recovery in the Upper Colorado River Basin Presented by: Western Water & Land, Inc. Grand Junction, Colorado

  2. Colorado’s Water Future • Current projections indicate Colorado population growth will double by 2050 • Existing water supply systems will not be adequate – especially on the front range • New storage systems will be needed as part of future water management • Continued collaboration will be required among agricultural, municipal, industrial, and recreational water users to sponsor new alternative water supply and storage projects (HB 1177) Western Water & Land, Inc.

  3. Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) • ASR is a viable storage and water supply alternative • The active or passive storage and recovery of artificially recharged source water in aquifers Western Water & Land, Inc.

  4. Source: Topper, R. et. al. (2004)

  5. Why ASR? • Aquifer management and sustainability • Supply storage for future and emergency demand • Augmentation and legal obligations Western Water & Land, Inc.

  6. Advantages of ASR • Reduced environmental impact • Reduced permitting, cost, and time for storage construction • Minimal evaporation losses • Improved public safety and source protection • Potential for greater public acceptance Western Water & Land, Inc.

  7. Disadvantages of ASR • Requires initial characterization & baseline program • Reduced storage control • Extraction limitations (regulatory) • Long-term pumping; maintenance and monitoring • Chemistry/treatment issues Western Water & Land, Inc.

  8. ASR in Colorado • In 2003 Director of CDNR called for a statewide assessment of artificial recharge in response to the worse drought year on record in 2002 • Resulting study was conducted by CGS and ranked top 16 unconsolidated (alluvial) and top 29 consolidated (bedrock) aquifers throughout the state (generally > 100,000 ac ft) • Three alluvial aquifers (1 in the Grand Valley) in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) ranked in the top 16 alluvial aquifers • Eight bedrock aquifers listed in UCRB, (3 in the Piceance Creek Basin: Mesaverde, Uinta, & Wasatch - Ft. Union Fms) • Nineteen active artificial recharge projects in the state in 2004; three in the UCRB Western Water & Land, Inc.

  9. Active Artificial Recharge in Colorado (2004) Source: Topper, R. et. al. (2004) Western Water & Land, Inc.

  10. Key Alluvial Aquifers in Colorado Source: Topper, R. et. al. (2004) Western Water & Land, Inc.

  11. Key Bedrock Aquifers in Colorado Source: Topper, R. et. al. (2004) Western Water & Land, Inc.

  12. Top Listed Bedrock Aquifers in the Upper Colorado River Basin • Troublesome Formation (Middle Park) • Weber-Maroon-Minturn Formations (Eagle Basin and vicinity) • Uinta Formation – Piceance Creek Basin • Wasatch and Fort Union Formations – Piceance Creek Basin • Mesaverde Formation (Group) – Piceance Creek Basin • Wingate, Morrison, Summerville, Entrada, Dakota, Burro Canyon Formations – Gunnison Basin & SW CO Western Water & Land, Inc.

  13. Feasibility Assessment • Physical Elements • Source water supply • Infrastructure • Aquifer properties • Water chemistry • Scale • Administrative Elements • Cost • Water administration • Water rights Western Water & Land, Inc.

  14. Feasibility Assessment • Physical Elements • Source Water Supply • Capacity • Proximity of surface water source to aquifer • Infrastructure • Conveyance systems: source water, aquifer, and users • Wells, pipelines, treatment facilities, power source, distribution systems • Aquifer Properties • Hydraulic properties (areal extent, thickness, piezometric surface, storage coefficient, hydraulic conductivity) • Storage capacity (e.g. >100,000 ac ft) • Recharge and discharge pathways (tributary vs. non-tributary) Western Water & Land, Inc.

  15. Feasibility Assessment • Physical Elements • Water Chemistry • Chemical compatibility of source water & natural groundwater • Is water treatment necessary? • Scale • Local irrigation districts, industrial, major municipalities Administrative Elements • Cost • Characterization • Infrastructure (pump stations, wells, electrical) • Operation and maintenance • Legal Fees Western Water & Land, Inc.

  16. Feasibility Assessment Administrative Elements • Water Administration • Can ASR in the UCRB be managed under existing regulations? Will new regulations be basin, aquifer, or project specific? • Tributary vs. non-tributary • Volume injected vs. volume extracted • Water quality issues • EPA UIC permit considerations • CDPHE (not if exercising a water right) • Water Rights • Decreed uses, restrictions or limitations, potential impacts to other users • Divert under existing rights, new rights or during periods of free river conditions Western Water & Land, Inc.

  17. Summary • The Upper Colorado River Basin has the source water and promising aquifers for ASR. • ASR has potential as a long-term storage alternative. • ASR feasibility study followed by a demonstration project is needed now to prepare for future demands. Western Water & Land, Inc.

  18. THE END “population is pollution spelled inside out” – David Brower Western Water & Land, Inc.

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