Title: A report on water diversion projects in El Paso County, Colorado since 1950, water use and population growth in El Paso County since 1985 and housing growth since 1993

 

 

Author: Lukas Strandberg

Abstract: The objective of this study was to quantify the impact that the growing population of El Paso County, Colorado has on the water supply and diversion projects that have been constructed by the public supply entities in El Paso County.  This study utilized data from the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Water Use Estimate program, housing data from the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department on single family detached housing for 1993-1994 and 1996-2005, and numerous water resource papers by USGS scientists describing water use in El Paso County, the State of Colorado and the western United States at large.  This study found that it did not acquire adequate data to assess the impact of single-family detached houses on public-supply water use.  This study confirmed the trend occurring throughout the west that while irrigation still uses more water than public supply, public supply is growing faster than irrigation supply is because of the increasing urbanization of the western United States.  

Key References:

John C. Halepaska and Associates, Inc. & Knight Piésold and Co. (2002) El Paso County       Water Authority: El Paso County Water Report: Draft Final. Colorado Springs, CO; El Paso County Water Authority. Retrieved March 18, 2006 from http://adm2.elpasoco.com/planning/water_report.asp

 Konieczki, A.D. & Heilman, J.A. (2004) Water-Use Trends in the desert Southwest- 1950-2000. United States Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5148. Retrieved April 8, 2006 from http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2004/5148/

Litke, D. W & Kuaffman, L. F. (1993). Analysis of Residential Use of Water in the Denver Metropolitan Area, Colorado, 1980-87. Retrieved March 18, 2006 from http://onlinepubs.er.usgs.gov/djvu/WRI/wrir_92_4030.djvu

Livingston, R.K., J.M. Klein, and D.L. Bingham. (1976). Water Resources of El Paso County, Colorado.  Colorado Water Resources Circular 32. State of Colorado.

 

Return to Water Resources Papers page.

 

 


Date: May 2006
Student: lstrandb@willamette.edu
ENVR 327: Water Resources
Instructor: Dr. Karen Arabas
http://www.willamette.edu/~karabas/courses/envr327w