INTRODUCTION

Ground water in Colorado has become an issue of paramount importance. A considerable percentage of the population of Colorado relies on ground water as either a sole or adjunct water supply. Assessment, management, and protection of this essential resource are ever growing components of the work conducted by Martin and Wood personnel. The range of geologic and hydrogeologic environments encountered with respect to ground water in Colorado is considerable. Sedimentary rock aquifers, alluvial sand and gravel aquifers, volcanic rock aquifers, and fractured crystalline rock aquifers all exhibit varying characteristics and hydrogeologic behaviors. Superimposed on this wide variety of hydrogeologic traits is a significantly developed system of legal control and administrative constraints. No fewer than five differing administrative classifications of ground water currently exist in Colorado today, and new laws and administrative procedures are continuing to be developed as technical advancements are made and use of these critical resources expands.

Ground water is often inter-related to the surface water system, resulting in the need for a middle layer of laws and administrative processes that take into account the interaction of ground and surface waters under a variety of conditions. Martin and Wood has considerable experience statewide with the complex variety of ground water conditions physically encountered and with the assessment and development of this critical resource.

Finally, water quality in ground water throughout Colorado can exhibit huge variation, with some aquifers meeting all primary and secondary drinking water quality parameters right out of the ground and others requiring extensive treatment.