Post on 13-Apr-2017
Can/Should Texas learn from Colorado? A primer on groundwater-surface water interactions and
regulation methods
TWCA Spring MeetingMarch 4, 2016
Jordan Furnans, PhD, PE and Dave Colvin, PG
San Saba River, Menard Co.
October 2012 – TCEQ Receives “Missing Water” Complaint:
“Numerous shallow groundwater wells being utilized to pump surface water in the form of underflow from the San Saba River”
TCEQ Investigates possible explanations for water loss between US HW 83 and 5-Mile Bridge
TCEQ Investigation:
“the authorized diversions during the time have no significant impact and thus are not responsible for such dramatic losses in the river in the segment between US Highway 83 to 5-mile bridge.”
“monthly average ETo losses do not account for the periodic dramatic losses in the San Saba River between US Highway 83 to 5-mile bridge.”
“With the exception of the commonly known shallow alluvium irrigation wells, all other factors which may be responsible for the dramatic losses between US Highway 83 and 5-mile bridge have been considered and would not be likely to account for the remaining losses. Utilizing the best available scientific data, it is therefore concluded that the shallow alluvium irrigation wells are the most likely factor to account for the remaining losses of water.”
TCEQ Enforcement Action
Suggested Resolution:
Amend surface water permit to allow diversion at property location
Colorado’s Water Imbalance
Source:South Platte Basin Implementation Plan; http://www.southplattebasin.com//
Colorado’s Water Imbalance
Source:South Platte Basin Implementation Plan; http://www.southplattebasin.com//
By 2050:• 6 Million people• ~200,000 Ag acres
transferred to municipal water use
1860 1877 1894 1911 1928 1945 1962 1979 1996
First Groundwater Well
1889
Irrigation Development Starts1860
Water management increases South Platte flows
1896
Electrical pumps increase numbers of wells
1930
1950 - 1960Drought
1980 - 2000Wet Period
2002 - 2007Drought of Record
SOUTH PLATTE BASINWATER ADMINISTRATION
Supreme Court decision: single use/return flows1913
1860 1877 1894 1911 1928 1945 1962 1979 1996
First Groundwater Well
1889
Supreme Court decision: single use/return flows1913
Colorado Groundwater Law
1957
Irrigation Development Starts1860
Water management increases South Platte flows
1896
Electrical pumps increase numbers of wells
1930
Groundwater Management Act
1965
Water Right Determination and Administration Act
1969
1950 - 1960Drought
1980 - 2000Wet Period
2002 - 2007Drought of Record
SOUTH PLATTE BASINWATER ADMINISTRATION
1860 1877 1894 1911 1928 1945 1962 1979 1996
First Groundwater Well
1889
Supreme Court decision: single use/return flows1913
Colorado Groundwater Law
1957
Irrigation Development Starts1860
Water management increases South Platte flows
1896
Electrical pumps increase numbers of wells
1930
Groundwater Management Act
1965
Water Right Determination and Administration Act
1969
1950 - 1960Drought
1980 - 2000Wet Period
2002 - 2007Drought of Record
SOUTH PLATTE BASINWATER ADMINISTRATION
Justice Groves, “as administration of water approaches its second century, the curtain is opening upon the new drama of maximum utilization and how constitutionally that doctrine can be integrated into the law of vested rights.”
Justice Groves, “as administration of water approaches its second century, the curtain is opening upon the new drama of maximum utilization and how constitutionally that doctrine can be integrated into the law of vested rights.”
1860 1877 1894 1911 1928 1945 1962 1979 1996
First Groundwater Well
1889
Supreme Court decision: single use/return flows1913
Colorado Groundwater Law
1957 Senate commissions 2 year surface water/groundwater study1967
Well Users form GASP and GMS1972
Irrigation Development Starts1860
Water management increases South Platte flows
1896
Electrical pumps increase numbers of wells
1930
Groundwater Management Act
1965
Water Right Determination and Administration Act
1969
1950 - 1960Drought
1980 - 2000Wet Period
2002 - 2007Drought of Record
SOUTH PLATTE BASINWATER ADMINISTRATION
1860 1877 1894 1911 1928 1945 1962 1979 1996
First Groundwater Well
1889
Supreme Court decision: single use/return flows1913
Colorado Groundwater Law
1957 Senate commissions 2 year surface water/groundwater study1967
Well Users form GASP and GMS1972
Irrigation Development Starts1860
Water management increases South Platte flows
1896
Electrical pumps increase numbers of wells
1930
Groundwater Management Act
1965
Water Right Determination and Administration Act
1969
1950 - 1960Drought
1980 - 2000Wet Period
2002 - 2007Drought of Record
SOUTH PLATTE BASINWATER ADMINISTRATION
1860 1877 1894 1911 1928 1945 1962 1979 1996
First Groundwater Well
1889
Supreme Court decision: single use/return flows1913
Colorado Groundwater Law
1957 Senate commissions 2 year surface water/groundwater study1967
Well Users form GASP and GMS1972
SWSP Legislation2002
Irrigation Development Starts1860
Water management increases South Platte flows
1896
Electrical pumps increase numbers of wells
1930
Groundwater Management Act
1965
Water Right Determination and Administration Act
1969
Empire Lodge v. Moyer
2001
Simpson v. Bijou Irrigation Co.
2003
1950 - 1960Drought
1980 - 2000Wet Period
2002 - 2007Drought of Record
SOUTH PLATTE BASINWATER ADMINISTRATION
1860 1877 1894 1911 1928 1945 1962 1979 1996
First Groundwater Well
1889
Supreme Court decision: single use/return flows1913
Colorado Groundwater Law
1957 Senate commissions 2 year surface water/groundwater study1967
Well Users form GASP and GMS1972
SWSP Legislation2002
Hundreds of wells curtailed2005
HB-1278 Commissions alluvial aquifer study2012
Irrigation Development Starts1860
Water management increases South Platte flows
1896
Electrical pumps increase numbers of wells
1930
Groundwater Management Act
1965
Water Right Determination and Administration Act
1969
Empire Lodge v. Moyer
2001
Simpson v. Bijou Irrigation Co.
2003
High groundwater damaging property
2008
1950 - 1960Drought
1980 - 2000Wet Period
2002 - 2007Drought of Record
SOUTH PLATTE BASINWATER ADMINISTRATION
River Water Capture – Fluorescence Fingerprint Analyses
Groundwater with lower percentage of river water
Groundwater with higher percentage of river water
TRWD – Trinity River Study