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<br />modeling capabilities to allow water <br />planners to make informed decisions on <br />water development projects. This system <br />is planned to be available in 1996 or <br />1997. <br /> <br />4. OBTAIN WATER PLAN REVIEW <br />ASSISTANCE <br /> <br />County and applicable towns should col- <br />lectively contract with a water analysis <br />consultant on an as needed basis to <br />review proposed water plans for pro- <br />posed development, to augment review <br />services currently provided for some <br />projects by the Colorado Division of <br />Water Resources. <br /> <br />4.3.2. OBJECTIVE: Develop <br />Cooperative Land Use and Water <br />Planning PoUcies that Address <br />Future Growth, Water Supply <br />and Stream Flow Protection <br /> <br />During the citizen participation process for <br />this plan, major concerns came to light that <br />1) growth in the watershed should be based <br />on water availability and other natural and <br />man made thresholds, and 2) current rates of <br />growth can not be supported without degrad- <br />ing aquatic habitat, recreation, and the aes- <br />thetic value of the Eagle River and its major <br />tributaries unless steps are taken to reduce <br />water demand or increase water supply. <br /> <br />Recommended Actions: <br /> <br />1. REVIEW/DEVELOP MASTER PLAN <br />POLICIES SPECIFIC TO WATER <br />ISSUES OF SUPPLY, DEMAND AND <br />CAPACITY <br /> <br />The County and Towns should act on the <br />citizen recommendation (obtained <br />through public input) that planning <br />efforts (e.g. Eagle County Master Plan, <br /> <br />M; <br />24 IMIII <br /> <br />Town Master Plans) should provide <br />specific recommendations for directing <br />growth and development based on criti- <br />cal natural and man made thresholds, <br />particularly water availability. For exam- <br />ple the Eagle River Assembly Phase I <br />Report indicates that if build out (maxi- <br />mum development based on current <br />zoning) occurs in the Eagle River water- <br />shed that the frequency of instream <br />deficits will increase. Planning efforts <br />providing guidance for future growth <br />should recognize and specifically <br />address that there are three basic alter- <br />natives to manage new growth from a <br />water quantity viewpoint: <br /> <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br /> <br />1) Increase capacity for growth: Water <br />management techniques (water <br />storage, conservation, pump back <br />systems) must be implemented; <br /> <br />2) Don't increase capacity for growth: <br />permit development only if it does <br />not significantly degrade stream <br />flows or aquatic habitat or if a sig- <br />nificant public benefit is achieved <br />(Le. affordable housing); <br />OR <br />3) Take no action: Take no action to <br />manage water resources and no <br />action to manage growth. This will <br />result in increased stream flow <br />deficits and aquatic habitat will be <br />degraded. <br /> <br />The critical issue is that decision makers <br />and the public understand the conse- <br />quences of a policy direction. <br /> <br />2. ADOPT A LOCAL POSITION ON <br />AUGMENTATION PLANS <br /> <br />Colorado water law allows "water aug- <br />mentation" as a means to allow diver- <br />sion of water by a "junior" (younger) <br />water right when this junior right would <br />otherwise be out of priority and unable <br />to divert water. An augmentation plan <br />