Consulting Services to
Saguache County, Colorado

Contracting Agency: Saguache County, Colorado

​

Quantum was retained by Saguache County (County) as their technical representative on the RGDSS Peer Review Team (PRT), to review changes to the RGDSS model, provide additional data, and comment on additional studies being conducted by DWR and consultants. In addition, Quantum is studying the conjunctive use of the unconfined aquifer and Saguache Creek and the relationship between the Rio Grande Decision Support System (RGDSS) model and the effects on the water budget of the area. Quantum has installed several monitoring devices near Saguache Creek and will be drilling several wells near the creek to determine the effectives of pumping irrigation wells on stream flow.

​

Based on information provided by Dr. Willem Schreuder from the RGDSS Model, Quantum imported the layers of the upper aquifer in a GIS and prepared an animation for the County for stakeholder understanding of the complexity of the system. The County placed this animation on their website: 

(https://saguachecounty.colorado.gov/commissioners).

Quantum’s GIS team conducted a site suitability analysis for the construction of piezometers along Saguache Creek to calculate the influence of the creek on the unconfined aquifer system and the RGDSS model’s efficacy in its representation of the hydrogeologic interactions. Quantum’s GIS team’s spatial analysis and mapping efforts are being used in support of garnering funds from local roundtables, grants, and governmental entities to fund further research into the hydrogeologic features of the region.

​

The County is committed to the enhancement of the RGDSS by providing additional data sets as requested by the PRT, continuing the technical involvement on the RGDSS PRT, and has determined that a study of the conjunctive use of Saguache Creek and the unconfined aquifer is necessary to support the RGDSS modeling.