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00628 do so should be provided, Residents of the metro, politan Denver area are entitled to a water supply sufficient for residential, commercial and industrial uses, and the water to maintain the environment and quality of life bequeathed to us by our prede. cessors. In Denver's semi-arid climate, water is essential to maintain our greenery, which counters air pollution by producing oxygen and reducing dust in the air. THE COUNC1L BELlEVES that local govern. ment officials and the water agencies which serve their communities are legally and morally bound to provide an adequate water supply, If the Foot. hills project is not approved, their responsibility will be extremely difficult to meet, and there could be periodic water shortages through the 1980's, THE COUNCIL BELlEVES that, even with sub- stantial and permanent conservation of water by everyone, additional water supply and treatment capacity will be needed to serve a higher popula. tion expected between now and the year 2000, The additional three increments of 125 MGD each, bringing the total Foothills capacity to 500 l'vlGD, should be built when needed, but to serve actual additional population only if it increases as anticipated, THE COUNCIL BELIEVES that water used for irrigation of lawns, flowers, shrubs and trees in nor- mal runoff years provides a "r.eservoirl> to be drawn upon in drought years, preventing hardships such as those now being experienced in Marin County. California, where they voted down two bond issues. Denver, by contrast, passed a bond issue for Foot. hills in 1973, but we will still have water shortages for several years, THE COUNCIL BELIEVES that the current water restrictions are prudent measures to alleviate the effects of the drought and to offset the effects of limited treatment capacity due to the Foothills project delay, THE COUNC1L BELIEVES that areas must be provided for wildlife habitat, but that human needs must be considered as well. The area involved in the Foothills treatment plant, Strontia Springs Dam and Reservoir and the water conveyance tun- nel can accommodate these manmade structures with reasonable provisions for fish, Rocky Moun- tain Sheep and other wildlife in the area, THE COUNCIL BELIEVES that the availability of an adequate water supply is not the cause of growth or air pollution or any other urban and suburban problems, nor that water supply in itself creates a demand for other governmental services, There is no essential cause-effect relationship between the 125 l'vlGD Foothills facilities and the proposed Two Forks project. Foothills is justified on its own merits, and Two Forks should be judged on its merits, Trying to stop Two Forks by stop. ping Foothills is not a proper or responsible course of action. Below is the artist's conception of the Foothills treatment plant to be located in the southwestern portion of the metro area,