BOARD00082 ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 11/14/2006
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Future Consumptive Use Projections
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Agenda Item 16, Colorado River Depletion Projections
November 13-15,2006 I
Page 2 of2

the recent Hydrologic Determinations. Colorado's future consumptive use estimates, in .
conjunction with the current consumptive uses identified in Reclamation's consumptive uses and
,
losses reports, would consume Colorado's;share (51.75 %) ofthe 6,000,000 acre-feet (3,079,125
acre-feet) deemed reasonably likely to be available. However, this in no way implies any limit
on Colorado's ability to fully develop it futl apportionment under the Colorado River and Upper
Colorado River Compacts.

Other Considerations

Currently, on average there is in excess of9.0 MAP of Colorado River water flowing out
of Colorado annually. We also recognize that there are a number of factors affecting the amount
of consumptive use that annually occurs and even more factors affecting future water
development opportunities. We also have better information and tools to process information,
which allow us to look at how current water uses maybe changing. It is no secret that we are
losing agricultural lands to urban development and that there is an increasing desire to leave
water in the streams for recreational and environmental purposes. Also, we have seen many
efforts, such as the Colorado River Salinity Control Program, implemented to help us use our
water more efficiently. These factors likely will slow the development of new water resources,
but they should not limit them.

Conclusion

Given the current conditions, we do not foresee a need for Colorado to make any
significant changes to our future consumptive use projections other than to exclude CRSP
reservoir evaporation so that uses are consistent with the way they are reported in the 2006
Hydrologic Determination.

.

Recommendation

This is an informational item only at this time. We are sending this infonnation to the
primary users of Colorado River water requesting their comments and input. We will discuss
this item further with the Board in January with the goal of obtaining Board concurrence with
protections and subsequently submitting the projections to the UCRC for consideration along
with the projections of the other Upper Division States and present that infonnation to the
Commissioners for their consideration and hopefully subsequent distribution to federal agencies
and other public entities as appropriate.

Attachments

Cc:
Andy Moore
Ray Alvarado
Eric Kuhn
Scott Balcomb
Jim Lochhead

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Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Prote'ction. Conservation Planning