Stream-Aquifer Systems in Semi-Arid Regions: Hydrologic, Legal, and Management Issues

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1. It would be better if the authors could show some data to display the change in water resources, groundwater head, etc., to help reflect the experiences and lessons learned from 50 years of water resources management.

2. The authors mentioned that groundwater numerical modeling provides a quantitative tool for local governments, but it is very difficult to build an accurate numerical model, which requires a lot of manpower and financial resources, otherwise the numerical model will not be able to give the results with sufficient accuracy to support the management. However, many places have financial difficulties and can not contribute enough money to do a detailed hydrogeological investigation, and even if it is a wealthy city, it is impossible to make the aquifers and groundwater resources completely clear due to the complexity of hydrogeology. How to resolve this contradiction? It would be great if the authors could provide suggestions.

Author Response

1. It would be better if the authors could show some data to display the change in water resources, groundwater head, etc., to help reflect the experiences and lessons learned from 50 years of water resources management.

Response:  The reviewer makes a good point, which has actually been the subject of recent comprehensive studies. The data show that we are unable to display maps or graphs to illustrate the full range of changes within the scope of the paper.

2. The authors mentioned that groundwater numerical modeling provides a quantitative tool for local governments, but it is very difficult to build an accurate numerical model, which requires a lot of manpower and financial resources, otherwise the numerical model will not be able to give the results with sufficient accuracy to support the management. However, many places have financial difficulties and can not contribute enough money to do a detailed hydrogeological investigation, and even if it is a wealthy city, it is impossible to make the aquifers and groundwater resources completely clear due to the complexity of hydrogeology. How to resolve this contradiction? It would be great if the authors could provide suggestions.

Response

This is an excellent comment, and we have added explanations of the difficulty of developing models and making sense of the complexity of the hydrogeology.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I have reviewed the manuscript and these are my comments:

1. Reference is made to Figure 1. For a paper like this, which has global significance it is important to make a map in relation to the entire map of the USA.

2. I suggest the seven water divisions as mentioned in the paper be presented on a map or table.

3. Check line 225 for an omission.

4. The paper has not mentioned the role that data driven models (Artificial Intelligence) has played in groundwater development and management in the study area. It is important to talk about recent advances that have been made in this regard.

Author Response

1  Reference is made to Figure 1. For a paper like this, which has global significance it is important to make a map in relation to the entire map of the USA.

2. I suggest the seven water divisions as mentioned in the paper be presented on a map or table.

Response

When we developed Figure 1, our goal was to be economical in presenting the location and contacts.  It shows the seven river basins, and we have added an explanations of the division structure.    To explain the location of Colorado in the US, we could place a map of the country, but it would show very little that cannot be explained easily.  For that reason, we added details in the verbiage.  

3. Check line 225 for an omission.

Response

This has been checked and corrected.

4. The paper has not mentioned the role that data driven models (Artificial Intelligence) has played in groundwater development and management in the study area. It is important to talk about recent advances that have been made in this regard.

Response

We have added mention of the role of data-driven model of the artificial intelligence type.

 

 

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript entitled “Water rights administration in stream aquifer systems: Fifty years of experience in Colorado: was written to describe the history of groundwater development and management in Colorado state, USA. The manuscript describes some case studies indicating how engineering, groundwater modelling, law and interstate agreement worked together. I have no major question about this communication manuscript but have some observations.

 

Observations

1.      The keywords could be different from the title of the manuscript. So, please remove similar words from the title and add new keywords.

2.      The units written in this communication manuscript are in imperial style that may not be pleasure reading for some international readers. So, please convert the units to SI units.

3.      Numbering can be added in each topic.

Author Response

1.      The keywords could be different from the title of the manuscript. So, please remove similar words from the title and add new keywords.

Response

We have revised the keywords.

2.  The units written in this communication manuscript are in imperial style that may not be pleasure reading for some international readers. So, please convert the units to SI units

Response

We have checked the paper to ensure that SI units are used throughout.

3.      Numbering can be added in each topic.

Response

We will leave the decision about numbering the topics to the editors.

 

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The submitted manuscript named "Water rights administration in stream-aquifer systems: Fifty years of experience in Colorado" is accurately named and fit for publication in the special issue.

The manuscript adequately addresses the major points of integrated groundwater management in Colorado US, stressing the interface of water rights and legal technical approaches followed tha past 50 years. It also roughly discusses the development of more accurate  coupling of  hydrological and hydrogeological models and how they can effectively improve current of future obstracles in the water management of the region apart from organizational or contemporary legal challenges.

 

Here follows my feedback;

In the introduction section please add more background of current state of water in terms of surface water quantities flows, comparison of SW vs GW usage, quality issues to balance the legal component content which is well established.

A schematic representation of the interlinks of legal-technical dimesions of your manuscript will be an added value and will help the reader to better understand and take stock from your extensive experiences over the years.

In L62 add units in metric system too

 

Author Response

1. In the introduction section please add more background of current state of water in terms of surface water quantities flows, comparison of SW vs GW usage, quality issues to balance the legal component content which is well established.

Response

We have reviewed the introduction section to identify places where we could add page discussion of the topics mentioned by the reviewer.

2.  A schematic representation of the interlinks of legal-technical dimesions of your manuscript will be an added value and will help the reader to better understand and take stock from your extensive experiences over the years.

Response

This is an interesting comment, and we will take it under consideration in the revision of the manuscript.

3.  In L62 add units in metric system too

Response

We have done this.