TAMARACK RANCH GROUNDWATER RECHARGE PROJECT

摘要

Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW), Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (NCWCD), Colorado State University (CSU), and Colorado Division of Water Resources (CDWR) are working together to monitor site hydrology and develop a groundwater model for the Tamarack Ranch Groundwater Recharge Project (Project). Located on CDOW's Tamarack Ranch State Wildlife Area (Tamarack SWA), the Project re-times excess South Platte River flows through managed groundwater recharge. The Project is designed to pump groundwater wells next to the river when there is no call on the South Platte River, and deliver this water to recharge ponds. This recharge water becomes part of the alluvial groundwater system, and travels back to the South Platte River providing accretion water at a later time to the South Platte River when additional river flows are needed. The facilities currently include 10 pumping wells located along the lower South Platte River and three recharge ponds located within the Sand Hills several thousand feet south of the river. Groundwater and surface water monitoring are providing critical data needed to assess changes in wetland and waterfowl habitat, and to track groundwater returns to the South Platte River. A numerical groundwater model has been developed to optimize Project operations and better define the complex interactions of the site-specific hydrogeology, groundwater pumping, and surface recharge ponds.