Hi3 Water
Back to Explorer
Fossil Water⚡ Fossil Water VerifiedSilver Data

Denver Basin Arapahoe Fossil Aquifer

Arapahoe, Colorado, USA

Deep Arapahoe aquifer in the Denver Basin, one of four stacked aquifer layers containing non-renewable fossil water. Designated as a non-tributary aquifer by Colorado — meaning it receives no significant recharge. Water is allocated for 100-year depletion.

80Grade A
High Value
Private
Sign in to save

Overview

Deep Arapahoe aquifer in the Denver Basin, one of four stacked aquifer layers containing non-renewable fossil water. Designated as a non-tributary aquifer by Colorado — meaning it receives no significant recharge. Water is allocated for 100-year depletion.

Additional Notes

Colorado Division of Water Resources designated non-tributary aquifer. 100-year mine-out allocation policy.

Water Source Data

Asset TypeFossil Water
Flow Rate150 GPM
Seasonal FlowNo (perennial)
Depth1,100 ft

Water Intelligence Score Breakdown

Total: 80/100
Flow RateGeologicalLegal RightsSustainabilityRarity
Flow Rate
Yield & consistency
18/25
Geological
Formation quality
19/20
Legal Rights
Rights clarity
18/20
Sustainability
Long-term viability
10/20
Rarity
Scarcity premium
15/15

Risk Assessment

Overall: High(58/100)
Dry-up Risk
High
30/40

Source depletion probability

LowCritical
Legal Risk
High
18/35

Rights & regulatory exposure

LowCritical
Environmental
Medium
10/25

Contamination & ecosystem risk

LowCritical

Geological Intelligence

Formation & aquifer context
Rock Type
Sedimentary
Sandstone

Variable porosity — classic aquifer formation

Aquifer Type
Fossil
fossil

Ancient water, no modern recharge — non-renewable on human timescales

Formation
Arapahoe Formation
Basin
—
Elevation
—
Region
—

Land Details

Private
Acreage
—
Asking Price
Not listed
Buildable
Unknown
Zoning
—
Parcel ID
—

Water Rights

Unverified

Prior Appropriation

First in time, first in right

Rights are established by historical beneficial use. Senior rights holders receive full allocation before junior holders, regardless of land ownership.

  • Seniority date determines priority order
  • Requires continuous beneficial use
  • Can be severed from land and transferred
  • "Use it or lose it" — abandonment risk
Common in western US states (CO, MT, WY, ID, NV, UT, AZ, NM, OR, WA, CA)• Asset location: Colorado

Disclaimer: Water rights information is provided for research and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rights status, seniority, transferability, and enforceability vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Always consult a licensed water rights attorney and verify status with the relevant state water resources agency before any acquisition or use decision.

Read full disclaimer

Regulatory & News Alerts

Location

Latitude39.6
Longitude-104.8
State/ProvinceColorado
CountyArapahoe
CountryUSA
View on Google Maps

Data Sources & Attribution

Updated Apr 4, 2026
Primary Source
hi3_fossil_water_research

Data is sourced from public and authoritative providers. Hi3 Water aggregates, normalizes, and scores records but does not assert ownership of underlying source data. Always verify critical details with the primary source before any decision.

Data Quality

Silver Quality
Gold = Field verified + lab tested
Silver = Reported + partial verification
Bronze = User reported
Unverified = Pending review

Similar Assets