This diagram shows that water is added to the aquiter by precipitation and infiltration (soaking into the ground) below streams and lakes. Precipitation in the Rocky Mountains is responsible for much of the recharge of the Denver Basin aquifer system. Consider how the water level of the aquifer might change if the dimate of the region were to become wetter or drier. Water is subtracted from the aquifer at wells and natural springs. Consider how increasing or decreasing the amount of water pumped out of the aquifer at wells would change the water level of the aquifer. 3. Describe how changes in the climate of this region might affect the water level of the aquifer. Changes in the climate of the region could afiect the water level or the aquifer in several ways. If the climate became wetter, there could be more recharge, which would lead to an increase in the water level of the aquifer. If the climate became drier, there would be less recharge, which would lead to a decrease in the water level of the aquifer. 4. How might human activities affect the water level of the aquifer?Estimated Water Use Estimated use of groundwater from In 1884, when wells first began Denver Basin aquifer system, 1990 discharging water from the Arapahoe aquifer, the water was used primarily for irrigation. The population was small, livestock was not much of a factor, and large industries didn't exist. As the population changed, however, so did water use patterns. Agricultural and industrial users still get much of their water from the aquifer, but more of the water for public use now comes from surface water, which is stored in reservoirs. Examine the graph of estimated groundwater use. 7. Rank the four types of water use from the most water used to the least. 8. As population increases, new homes and businesses are being built around the margin of the Denver metropolitan area. Which of the current water use categories might increase in the future? Which might decrease? With population increasing and annual rainfall remaining relatively constant, changes that might have been responsible for raising the water level of the aquifer after 1960 could include the implementation of more efficient irrigation practices, a decrease in the number of wells pumping water from the aquifer, or changes in land use that led to more recharge..

1. This diagram shows that water is added to the aquiter by precipitation and infiltration (soaking into
the ground) below streams and lakes. Precipitation in the Rocky Mountains is responsible for
much of the recharge of the Denver Basin aquifer system. Consider how the water level of the
aquifer might change if the dimate of the region were to become wetter or drier. Water is
subtracted from the aquifer at wells and natural springs. Consider how increasing or decreasing
the amount of water pumped out of the aquifer at wells would change the water level of the
aquifer. 3. Describe how changes in the climate of this region might affect the water level of the
aquifer. Changes in the climate of the region could afiect the water level or the aquifer in several
ways. If the climate became wetter, there could be more recharge, which would lead to an
increase in the water level of the aquifer. If the climate became drier, there would be less
recharge, which would lead to a decrease in the water level of the aquifer. 4. How might human
activities affect the water level of the aquifer?Estimated Water Use Estimated use of groundwater
from In 1884, when wells first began Denver Basin aquifer system, 1990 discharging water from
the Arapahoe aquifer, the water was used primarily for irrigation. The population was small,
livestock was not much of a factor, and large industries didn't exist. As the population changed,
however, so did water use patterns. Agricultural and industrial users still get much of their water
from the aquifer, but more of the water for public use now comes from surface water, which is
stored in reservoirs. Examine the graph of estimated groundwater use. 7. Rank the four types of
water use from the most water used to the least. 8. As population increases, new homes and
businesses are being built around the margin of the Denver metropolitan area. Which of the
current water use categories might increase in the future? Which might decrease? With population
increasing and annual rainfall remaining relatively constant, changes that might have been
responsible for raising the water level of the aquifer after 1960 could include the implementation of
more efficient irrigation practices, a decrease in the number of wells pumping water from the
aquifer, or changes in land use that led to more recharge.