WSP11430

• File Number: 8449
• Description: Platte River Projects
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Date: 5/1/1975
• Author: USACOE
• Title: Needs Identification and Supplement to the Plan of Study, Water and Related Land Resources Management Study
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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but is believed to have decreased again in the last year. Seven

counties along the west side of the basin have experienced annual

population growth rates in excess of 4 percent wtile 4 counties in

the basin have experienced declining population. Population in

the Sand Creek Watershed southeast of Denver has doubled in the

last 5 years and is projected to increase to anywhere from tvo to

five times the present population within the next 10 to 15 years.

The forces causing these rapid and diverse population growths are

not well defined. Therefore, projecting these forces into the

fUture and estimating their impacts on future population results

in a great deal of uncertainty in what the future population of

the area will actually be.

PLANNING VARIABLES

The State of Colorado and many local units of government are

attempting to control land use. Will these efforts be effective?

Will they affect population? Will development in hazard areas

such as flood plains cease? Will they lead to more efficiency

in the use of resources? Will they reduce outstate use of the

resources?

Can present water quality goals be afforded? What will the
standards be in the future? Can existing plans be implemented
with existing institutions and finances? What is the relationship
between the quality of the surface and ground waters?

Will development of Colorado River basin waters for diversion

to the South Platte River basin continue? What effect would the

development of energy resources in the Colorado River basin have

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