The area surrounding Manitou Springs, Colorado is host to numerous bedrock springs, which help to support the local economy through tourist visitation. Although many springs previously flowed directly to the surface, most of the “springs” in the area are now more strictly classified as flowing artesian wells completed in the Manitou Formation, a cavernous intermixed limestone and dolomite, which has been weathered into a karst aquifer. Increasing urbanization of the area has resulted in a need to understand groundwater-flow paths and sources of recharge to the artesian system.
A quantitative assessment of the hydrology of the confined artesian aquifer is being undertaken using an integrated approach. Methods include:
- continuous groundwater-level elevation measurements collected in flowing artesian bedrock wells,
- synoptic streamflow measurements to evaluate streamflow loss as a source of groundwater recharge, and
- a calibrated groundwater-flow model
These datasets and model outputs will be used to inform water users and the public of the groundwater-flow paths and sources of recharge to the aquifer.
Links to Groundwater-level Data
- Overview
The area surrounding Manitou Springs, Colorado is host to numerous bedrock springs, which help to support the local economy through tourist visitation. Although many springs previously flowed directly to the surface, most of the “springs” in the area are now more strictly classified as flowing artesian wells completed in the Manitou Formation, a cavernous intermixed limestone and dolomite, which has been weathered into a karst aquifer. Increasing urbanization of the area has resulted in a need to understand groundwater-flow paths and sources of recharge to the artesian system.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Springs discharging from the artesian aquifer are commonly supersaturated with minerals. In this photo at Iron Spring a small mound of iron hydroxides is forming below where the spring outflows to Fountain Creek. A quantitative assessment of the hydrology of the confined artesian aquifer is being undertaken using an integrated approach. Methods include:
- continuous groundwater-level elevation measurements collected in flowing artesian bedrock wells,
- synoptic streamflow measurements to evaluate streamflow loss as a source of groundwater recharge, and
- a calibrated groundwater-flow model
These datasets and model outputs will be used to inform water users and the public of the groundwater-flow paths and sources of recharge to the aquifer.
Links to Groundwater-level Data
- Data
- Multimedia
- Publications
- Partners