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OAR Box 1781 

Prepped by Ollie Stewart 

Document Number: 

25)11-1-17 

Docket Number: 

A-90-37 

Printed 10/29/2008 10:46:19 AM Sheet 25 of 142 
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TZA TED ZORICH & ASSOCIATES. INC. " & SOUTH CANOSA COURT 

ENGIEWOOCX COLORADO 80110 

CONSULTING ENGINEERS IN WATER RESOURCES (303) 761-143*4 

-^*SE53a4»f ' May 26, 1989 _ . _ -, rf- fy-3 7 

"

; .7 

' :k 2 5 KS 

Mr. Dan Zunich 

Cimarron Chemical Inc. 

1400 Post Oak Blvd. 625 

Houston, Texas 77056 

Re: TZA's Report Titled "Ground Water Supply Assessment for 

•Proposed Cogeneration Facility near Springfield, 

Colorado, January, 1989" 

Dear Mr. Zunich: 

This letter has been prepared in response to your questions about 

the effects of increased water requirements upon the ground water 

supply at the cogeneration plant site, and to provide additional 

information about alternative sources of supply. 

BACKGROUND 

Ground water supplies can potentially be obtained from four water 

bearing formations in the Southern High Plains area of southeastern 

Colorado. The Ogallala formation overlies much of the area as a 

thin veneer of unconsolidated surficial deposits. Only localized 

areas have sufficient saturated thickness to support high capacity 

wells. The Dakota, Cheyenne, and Dockum sandstone formations 

underlie the surficial deposits. Well yields from these sandstone 

formations vary widely due to changes in percentages of shale and 

clay, extent of fracturing, and degree of cementation (Richards 

et.al., 1968). 

Total acreage irrigated with ground water supplies in Baca County 

increased from 1,700 to 85,000 acres between 1949 and 1974 (Young 

et.al., 1982). Much of this irrigation development occurred during 

the 1960's. Water table elevations in all the aquifers have 

declined continuously since irrigation development began, due to 

pumpage exceeding the recharge rates to the aquifers (Young et.al., 

1982; Borman et.al., 1980). 

Discussions with local residents indicate that water levels in the 

area have recently begun to rise somewhat. We expect that this is 

due primarily to the dramatic decrease in the use of wells for 

irrigation that resulted from the recent downturn in the 

agricultural economy. However, a revival of irrigated agriculture 

in the area would no doubt result in continued declines in ground 

water levels. 

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Mr. Dan Zunich 

May 26, 1989 

Page 3 . 

thickness were mapped by Borman et.al. (1984), and are shown on the 

attached figure. We recommend that Cimarron consider only those 

areas with at least 100 feet of saturated thickness to safeguard 

against future water level declines. The location closest to the 

plant site which meets this criteria is in Township 31 South, Range 

44 West. Sections 12, 14, 15, 16, 21, 30, 33, and 34 appear to 

overlie the portions of the Ogallala with the greatest saturated 

thickness in the immediate area, according to records from existing 

wells (Richards et.al., 1968). 

Cimarron should plan to acquire at least 640 acres containing two 

or more good wells in the above described area to support sustained 

pumping at a rate of 60 gpm (97 acre-feet per year). Wells located 

on properties considered for purchase should be thoroughly tested 

in order to verify production capacities and evaluate the current 

aquifer conditions. 

We would be pleased to submit a proposal for performing further 

evaluations o'f alternative water supply sources, if you so desire. 

Please call if you have further questions or desire additional 

information. 

Sincerely, 

Bruce E. Kroeker, P.E. 

BEK/kma 

attachments 

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REFERENCES 

Borman, R.G., T.S. Meredith, and S.M. Bryn. 1984. Geology, 

Altitude, and Depth of the Bedrock Surface; Altitude of the 

Water Table in 1980; and Saturated Thickness of the Ogallala 

Aquifer in 1980'in the Southern High Plains of Colorado. U.S. 

Geological Survey. Atlas HA-673. 

Hershey, L.A., and E.R. Hampton. 1974. Geohydrology of Baca and 

Southern Prowers Counties, Southeastern Colorado. U.S. 

Geological Survey. Water Resources Investigations 16-74. 

Open File Report. 

Richards, D.B., L.A. Hershey, and R.K. Glanzman. 1968. 

Hydrogeologic Data for Baca and Southern Prowers Counties, 

Colorado. Colorado Water Conservation Board Basic Data 

Release No. 19. 

Young, R.A., R.A. Longenbaugh, and L.R. Conklin. 1982. Energy and 

Water Scarcity and the Irrigated Agricultural Economy of the 

Colorado High Plains: Direct Economic and Hydrologic Impact 

Forecasts (1979 - 2020). Colorado Water Resources Research 

Institute. 

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