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<br />~-4 <br />',./"",, ,.. <br /> <br />-~ <br /> <br />also destrClY the alluvial aquifers which serve as vast storage reservoirs <br /> <br />for agricultural irrigation waters. <br /> <br />WESTERN SLOPE DEMAND <br /> <br />Energy developnent on the western slope is being proJected at levels high <br />enough to utilize all surplus waters by the year 1990. Fig. 6 shows proJecte!l <br /> <br />energy deve;topllent well into Colorado's maximum water supply share of between' <br />2.98 and 3.84 million acre-feet (3.7 x 109 x m3 and 4.1 x 109 x m3). Western: <br /> <br />"t <br /> <br />slope interjlsts do not view any of their waters as surplus. These waters are <br /> <br /> <br />viewed as n~cessary for economic development and environmental values on the <br /> <br />'J: <br />it <br /> <br />0, <br />~ <br /> <br />, <br /><;-; <br /> <br />western slope. <br />These are a few of the choices that must be made in the near future. The <br /> <br />J <br /> <br />development of a basin water management system which displays the alternative <br /> <br />opportunities and their costs and benefits is necessary if orderly use and <br /> <br />development is going to occur. <br /> <br />SOURCES OF SUPPLY <br /> <br />'f <br /> <br />The traditional sources of supply have been heavily utilized in the South <br /> <br />::;, <br /> <br />Platte River basin. Stream waters have been diverted, on-stream and off-stre~ <br /> <br />plains storage reservoirs built, mountain reservoirs constructed to retain <br /> <br />spring snowmelt, western slope streams diverted, western slope storage reser- <br /> <br />voirs constructed with tranmnountain diversion tunnels to transmit the water <br /> <br />under the CO/ltinental Divide, and finally, ground water reservoirs pumped <br /> <br />to the point that withdrawals exceed recharge in many areas. The remaining <br /> <br />reservoir sites have been evaluated and re-evaluated. Additional western <br /> <br />slope waters are becoming difficult to obtain. Physical development of the <br /> <br /> <br />basin's watet resources is rapidly reaching its peak. <br /> <br />The South,Platte River basin needs a basinwide management system for its <br /> <br />-'i <br /> <br />water resources which strives for efficiency of use. This cannot be equated <br /> <br />27 <br /> <br />"CoeLLi <br /> <br />." <br /> <br />'. ,-<,i ". <br /> <br />.. ,,~~.ib-. :;~ <br /> <br />- ;~ <br />~~~~,Ji <br />