Ground Water of Western Colorado

Western Colorado contains an estimated 5 to 10 million acre-feet of recoverable ground water. Ground water resources have not been as heavily developed in western Colorado as they have in other areas of the state because surface water is much more abundant than ground water.

With the exception of valley fill deposits, the ability to access ground water resources is limited by the complex geologic structure of the region.

Some Sources of Ground Water in Western Colorado

Valley fill alluvial deposits are found along streams and rivers in western Colorado. These deposits, ranging from 2 to 140 feet in thickness, consist of clay, sand, gravel, boulders, and glacial debris. The aquifers may yield from 5 to 1000 gallons per minute.

Over 25 million acre-feet of ground water are present in the fractures and interstices of sandstone deposits of the Green River Formation in the Piceance Creek Basin. Well yields of up to 1000 gallons per minute may occur.

The Mesaverde group may yield up to 1000 gallons per minute, but usually yields less than 600 gallons per minute.

Dakota sandstone usually yields less than 50 gallons per minute, but is am important source of water for stock and domestic wells.

Ground Water Quality in Western Colorado

The quality of ground water in western Colorado depends on the type of rock that forms the aquifer. Aquifers composed of rocks which are resistant to weathering (volcanic) have lower concentrations of dissolved solids than aquifers composed of more soluble rocks (limestone, sandstone, shale, siltstone).

Springs in Western Colorado

Springs in western Colorado have a combined discharge of 33,000 gallons per minute. These springs contribute 528,000 tons of dissolved minerals to rivers each year. The primary minerals dissolved in the spring water are sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, and sulfate minerals.

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