Southern High Plains Study
Groundwater Study Update
The purpose of the Southern High Plains (SHP) Groundwater Study Update is to provide: 1) revised scenario analyses for groundwater use within the Southern High Plains Designated Basin and 2) community facilitation to identify and establish groundwater resource goals for local residents of the Basin. Wilson Water Group (WWG) along with their sub-consultant, HRS Water Consultants, was selected to lead this project.
The Southern High Plains Groundwater Study Final Project Plan is now available. The project plan includes the proposed schedule for the project, which is anticipated to be completed by December 31, 2026. WWG and HRS are currently working on Task 2 of the project, updating the groundwater study. Draft results will be available in December 2025. Community Meetings to walk through results and obtain stakeholder input will be held starting in early 2026. More information will be provided in early 2026 on meeting dates and locations.
Southern High Plains (SHP) Groundwater Study Notification List
To receive updates on the project and notifications about future community meetings, please click on the button below and complete the google form to be added to the Southern High Plains Notification List.
Sign-up for Notifications on SHP Study
Project Contact: Brenna.Mefford@wilsonwatergroup.com
Media Contact: Michael.Sakas@state.co.us
Additional background information is provided below regarding previous studies in the Southern High Plains.
Background
The Southern High Plains Designated Groundwater Basin is a complex aquifer system in the southeast corner of Colorado, underlying most of Baca County and southeastern Prowers County. In this area, there is little surface water and residents rely primarily on groundwater. Over the past several years, there have been numerous objections to applications for new well permits in the Basin, on the basis that the Basin is overappropriated. However, under the current Designated Basin Rules, the Southern High Plains geohydraulic complex is not considered legally over appropriated for purposes of issuing new appropriations. In the fall of 2022, the Colorado Ground Water Commission received a petition from a group of citizens seeking to close the Southern High Plains Basin to all new high-capacity water well appropriations unless approved under a Commission-approved replacement plan or limit new appropriations based on an allowable rate of depletion. At the May 2023 Ground Water Commission Meeting, the Commission dismissed the pending petition as incomplete and requested that Staff continue stakeholder efforts in the Southern High Plains. To facilitate that effort, the Colorado Ground Water Commission requested funding to update a 2002 study on the Basin’s groundwater resources. That request was approved in 2024 and is currently underway.
Existing Studies
Two major groundwater availability studies were previously conducted in the Southern High Plains Designated Ground Water Basin:
- “Ground Water Resources of the Southern High Plains Basin, Relating to Portions of Prowers, Baca and Las Animas Counties, Colorado”, February 1967, R. W. Beck and Associates
- Prepared for the Ground Water Commission for the purpose of complying with the statutory requirements for the formation of the Basin.
- “Hydrogeology and Water Resources of the Southern High Plains Designated Ground Water Basin, Phase 2 Study, Southeastern Baca and Prowers Counties, Colorado”, January 2002, McLaughlin Water Engineers, Ltd (“2002 Study”)
- Prepared for the Southern High Plains Ground Water Management District (District) for the purpose of assessing the District’s use and supply of groundwater so as to assist the District in developing future management policies for the remaining groundwater resources.