WSP11652 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

\.:: lll.~ G River flows measured al the Utah border range from an historic high of 69.800 cubic (eet per sec- ond (cfs) in May 1984 to a record low of only 960 cfs in September 1956. These numbers, while extremes. clearly indicate the great importance of water stor- age to simultaneously control flooding during spring runoff and provide a controlled release of water for year-round uses. Approximately 80 mil- lion acre-feel of precipita- tion fall annually in the Colorado River drainage within Colorado's bor. ders. The greatest con- sumer of that water is nature. In Colorado's semiarid climate. roughly 85 percent of the lotal precipitation is ]osl to evaporation and Iranspi. ration. Among the traditional users of waler. agriculture is the dominant customer, accounting for approxi- mately 88 percent of the water appropriated in the state. Over one million acres are under irrigation within the Colorado River drainage in Colorado. Also. as a result of trans- mountain diversions. an additional 9OOJ)(X) acres in castern Colorado are sup' plemented by Colorado Ri....cr watcr.lncluding transbasin di....ersions. the Colorado River helps irri. gate nearly two-thirds of Colorado's total irrigated lands. Major crops grown wit h Colorado River water include grass and alfalfa hay. grains. vegeta- bles and fruil. Colorado's state",ide lotal crop value \....as $ 1.5 billion in 1991. Average annual precipi- tation in Colorado is 16.5 inches: howe....er. this varies from less than 7 inches [0 nearly 60 inches depending on location. Eighty percent of this pre- cipitation falls in the Colorado River drainage. where only 10 percent of the state's population resides. Colorado's settle. ment patterns have favored the eastern side of the Rockies which receives far less moisture than the rural western slope. To address this CRWUA state. Tourism and recre- ation has grown steadily in Colorado. and is now the state's second largest industry. Much of that growth is attributable to increases in outdoor pur- suits. including skiing. fishing. hiking and rafting. Downhill skiing alone contributes $2.5 billion to the state's economy. Accordingly. free flowing .'1", ~ " .,.,....;: ~, . . , ~'~ Pri~dp.:II-Resen'oir$ in- the Colorado River DrninBge ,'" , Aspinall Vwt ,:- '~ i:Uu~-'INl!- ;829.fA)Oacre--feet, ~to~w'F'o~~t ;:'~- 121.200acn.....!~t Crystalt.s#;.; .~~,,~.... 'lt2S~OO~w::re-c. :~ ," '. ....i~,t:'~r.f::k~~....~~. '~:t. l; v. ~Ct:V:OI .- ,: ~ l-;.,' ". ..~I .......... ...,:- '>:~. ..~~~ . - . _~~cI:~... .!.".2~LtrJ' ;~~~~.>~_'~.~~r~ ~ ~ Dlno~R'eser,'oir'. 254.000 ac~eet Green Mountain HC!'ervoir 146.900 acre-feet Vallreito Rt:Ser\loir 125,64()rn;'re-f~1 Ruelli Heser'\"Oir 102..100 acre-feet imbalance. numerous transmountain diversions transport an average of one-half million acre-fcet of Colorado Rivcr water annually (() supply eastern Colorado agriculture and the citi~s of Denver. Colorado Springs. Pueblo and others. While the Colorado River serves only 330.(0) people in its nalural basin within Colorado. as a result of transmountain diversions. it serves an additional 1.75 mllion. or nearly two-thirds of the state's population. ~Iunicipalities represent only 5 percent of the state's total water con- sumption. Business. industry and increasingly recreation (~.g.. <;oow- makmg) account for the remaining 7 percent of water consumed in the rivers and streams and additional wintertime water supplies for snow- making are under increas- ing demand. Control The legal framework fur use of Colorado's waters is the product of a lengthy history of water-related legislation and judicial decisions. Federal and stale rules and regulations regarding flood control. waler quality. hydroelec- Iric power. water supply. drinking water, soil con- servation. reclamation. forestry recreation and research also impact the allowable use of Colorado's waters. Additionally. nine inter- ~tate compacts shape the ri\'ers- u~age and dicta[c state line delivery require- ments. Colorado's constitution dedicates all surface waters in the stale to the public subject to appropriation for beneficial use. This so- called "Prior Appropria- tion Doctrine" governs Colorado's water law. which means that the application of water to beneficial use is governed by the order in which the use occurred (i.e., first.in~ time, first.in-right). Most western states follow some fonn of the Prior Appro- priation Doctrine, but typi- cally require a state permit to appropriate water. Colorado is unique in the absence of a state permit system. Colorado water rights are determined by the actual use of the water and certified by the courts. For almost 100 years. water in Colorado had to be physically captured and controlled to establish ben- eficial use. However. in 1973. the Colorado Legislature authorized the slate to appropriate water to maintain minimum stream nows "where essen. tial to preserve the natural environment to a reason- able degree:' The Colorado Water Conservation Board. the state agency charged with this responsibility. present- Iv holds more than 1.200 rights on more than 7.400 miles of streams and rivers and 485 minimum lake le....e1 decrees. The majority of these are in the Colorado River drainage. c: