CO SB147

Board shall conduct a study in consultation with the State Engineer to assess the impact of alluvial well pumping on surface flows in the South Platte River in District 2 of Water Division 1.

Study shall include historical analysis of stream flows using existing gauging stations, delineation of the study area, historical analysis of alluvial aquifer levels, and installation of a network of monitoring wells in the South Platte alluvial aquifer.

State Engineer shall authorize a 20-percent increase in well pumping by all wells that are part of an adjudicated augmentation plan in the study area for a five-year period commencing June 1, 2014.

Increased well pumping is deemed to have minimal impact on the South Platte River system, not result in material injury to existing water rights, and is justified to gain information about well pumping impacts on stream flows.

State Engineer shall provide annual reports to the Water Resources Review Committee by November 1 of each year, with a final report due November 1, 2018, summarizing the study's conclusions on the relationship between well withdrawals and stream flows.