USE OF ARCVIEW GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM TO MANAGE DECLINING GROUND WATER LEVELS IN THE DENVER BASIN AQUIFERS, DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO

Use of ArcView GIS has been an important tool in evaluating the Denver Basin aquifer characteristics along with declining water levels. As the Denver Basin aquifers decline and change from confined to unconfined conditions, it becomes increasingly important to manage this finite resource effectively. Information from numerous wells throughout several water Districts has been imported into ArcView GIS, which allows for a visual presentation of the data, and trends are visually more apparent and easier to understand on a regional basis.

The Denver Basin aquifers are interbedded layers of sedimentary rocks with wide ranges of permeabilities. Hydraulic characteristics of wells completed into the aquifers can vary from well to well depending on completion intervals and development techniques. Relationships to aquifer performance in both confined and unconfined conditions are correlated. As the upper sands of the aquifer are dewatered, production decreases. Analyzing the areas of dewatering provide information toward developing a managed approach to the aquifers. This managed approach includes recharging, education, and stricter controls on development and locating renewable water supplies.

Planning for development, infrastructure improvements, and well locations are more effective, due to the GIS capabilities to tie a database to a visual presentation. Depths to the top and bottom of the aquifers are mapped and spatially analyzed to determine the most effective placement of wells. The amount of saturated sand thickness, depth to static water level and specific capacity are also mapped and well locations are effectively placed.