BOARD00116 ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 1/24/2007
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Future Consumptive Use Projections - Future Depletions Schedule
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Agenda Item 18, Colorado River Depletion ~rojections
January 23-24,2007 Board Meeting
Page 2 of3

will reach levels comparable to the levels estimated in the draft 2006 Hydrologic Determination .- --
sometime between 2050 and 2060.

The Upper Division States believe that at least 6.0 million acre-feet of yield is available
to the Upper Division on an average annu;:11 basis, exclusive of CRSP evaporation, as found in
the 2006 draft Hydrologic Determination. Colorado's future consumptive use estimates, which
follow the trend in consumptive uses identified in Reclamation's consumptive uses and losses
reports, would consume Colorado's share (51.75 %) of the 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 full apportionment under the Colorado River and Upper
Colorado River Compacts.

Other Considerations

Currently, on average there is in excess of9.0 MAF 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 now have better information and tools to process information
that allow us to look at a number of these factors and how they impact or change current water
uses as well as where future water development potential exists.
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.
Furthermore, we have seen many programs, such as the Colorado River Salinity Control .
Program, implemented to help us use our water more efficiently. All these factors, when
combined, will slow the development of new water resources and consumptive uses, 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 the relative level of consumptive uses are consistent with the way
they are reported in the draft 2006 Hydrologic Determination.

Recommendation

We have distributed this information to the primary users of Colorado River water
requesting their comments and input. As indicated in our presentation to the Board in
November, we would like the Board's concurrence with the protections and authorization to
convey the projections to the UCRC for consideration along with the projections of the other
Upper Division States. The Commissioners will consider the revisions and if they deem them
appropriate will distribute them to various federal agencies and other public entities for planning
purposes as appropriate.

Attachments

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