Date: 09/04/2014
Final
Review of HB-1278 Study Recommendations for the South Platte Alluvial Aquifer
WATER RESOURCES REVIEW COMMITTEE
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10:45 AM -- Review of HB-1278 Study Recommendations for the South Platte Alluvial Aquifer
The committee returned to order.
Reagan Waskom, Director, Colorado Water Institute, said that the most irrigated basin in Colorado is the South Platte basin with 830,000 irrigated acres. He described the theory and application of alluvial aquifers including the effects on the surrounding geology and hydrology; stream gain and loss; integration of groundwater into Colorado's prior appropriation system; plans for augmentation; and the history behind House Bill 12-1278, in which the General Assembly commissioned a study of the interaction of the South Platte alluvial aquifer by the Colorado Water Institute at Colorado State University. He talked about high groundwater problems seen in northeastern Colorado; the history of groundwater pumping in the South Platte basin; augmentation requirements; the number of days of call on the river from 1982 until 2012; and the location of existing recharge structures in the South Platte Basin. Dr. Waskom discussed high groundwater levels seen in the South Platte basin, including historical high-water conditions and observations made in the HB 1278 study including trends seen regarding the depth of groundwater since 2000. Dr. Waskom said that total groundwater pumping has declined by about 10 percent in the Basin since the peak in 2002 and that the number of days of river call increased significantly since 2000. He talked about how more than 500 recharge facilities have been built recently in the South Platte basin as part of augmentation plans and that groundwater levels are rising in some areas in the South Platte. Dr. Waskom described the recommendations from the HB 1278 study including mitigation of localized high water table conditions; improving augmentation plan administration and efficiency; implementation of basinwide management and planning; and specific recommendations for improved transparency.
11:15 AM
Dr. Waskom responded to questions from the committee regarding data collection, monitoring, and modeling; universal truths regarding groundwater versus site-specific observations; if management of groundwater should be handled by the State Engineer's Office or in water court; and the connection between augmentation plans on the South Platte river driving a need for water utilities to acquire water from the Western Slope via transmountain diversions. He continued to respond to questions from the committee regarding water banking; effective water management; water injury; water court; and salinity of groundwater.