Transcript Presented by Ralf Topper, CPG July 28, 2005 30th Colorado Water Workshop.

Presented by Ralf Topper, CPG
July 28, 2005
30th Colorado Water Workshop
…… The value of reservoir water and ground
clearly realized, and we all recognize the need for
additional storage…….
water is
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 / DEMAND
Demand
The Hydrologic Cycle
Colorado Supreme Court Justice, Greg Hobbs
Sea to the river, feed me
River to the aquifer, fill me
Aquifer to the earth, hold me
Earth to the clouds, seed me
Clouds to the wind, stir me
Wind to the sea, rinse me
Earth to the aquifer
Aquifer to the river
River to the sea
Sea to the wind
Wind to the clouds
Clouds to the earth
Seed me
Stir me
Rinse me
Feed me
Fill me
Hold me
The Hydrologic Cycle
Surface Water / Ground Water Interaction
High Ground Water = Flow to Stream
Low Ground Water = Flow to Aquifer
AUGMENTATION CONCEPT
Can We Store Water Underground?
YES!
It has been locally implemented in
Colorado since 1940 and the subject of
numerous state and federal studies.
ACTIVE ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE IN COLORADO
Augmentation in the Lower South Platte
River Basin
ASR in the
Denver
Small Miscellaneous Sites
Basin
Regulate Water Supply and Manage
Water Quality
Conjunctive Use in the
San Luis Valley
How Do We Store
Water Underground –
By Implementing Artificial Recharge
SURFACE INFILTRATION
DRY
SUBSURFACE
SUBSURFACE INFILTRATION
INFILTRATION
DIRECT INJECTION
CONFINED AQUIFER
BENEFITS 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 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 Potential
Based on Aquifer Properties:
 Areal extent
 Depth
 Saturated Thickness
 Head Freeboard
 Storage Coefficient
 Hydraulic Conductivity
Lower South Platte
Top Candidates
Unconsolidated Aquifers
Bijou Creek
Kiowa
Creek
Big Sandy
Creek
Lower Arkansas
San Luis
Valley
Top Candidates
Consolidated Aquifers
WATER SUPPLY VS. DEMAND
SUPPLY > DEMAND
SUPPLY < DEMAND
 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.
 Artificial recharge technologies are proven and
have been implemented in Colorado on an individual
basis.
 In addition to managing water supplies, aquifer
storage projects can meet a number of water
resource objectives.
 Favorable hydrogeologic conditions exist in
unconsolidated and consolidated aquifers to
implement large-scale artificial recharge projects
throughout Colorado