ColoradoBasinWaterSupplyandNeedsReport

• Basin Roundtable: Colorado
• Title: Water Supply & Needs Report for the Colorado Basin
• Date: 5/1/2006
• Basin Roundtables - Doc Type: Needs Assessment Documents

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Significant water conservation has already
occurred in many areas.

8. Environmental and recreational uses of water
are expected to increase with population growth.
These uses help support Colorado's tourism
industry, provide recreational and environmental
benefits for our citizens, and are an important
industry in many parts of the state. Without a
mechanism to fund environmental and
recreational enhancement beyond the project
mitigation measures required by law, conflicts
among M&I, agricultural, recreational, and
environmental users could intensify.

9. The ability of smaller, rural water providers and
agricultural water users to adequately address
their existing and future water needs is
significantly affected by their financial
capabilities.

10. While SWSI evaluated water needs and solutions
through 2030, very few M&I water providers have
identified supplies beyond 2030. Beyond 2030,
growing demands may require more aggressive
solutions.

These Findings and the Recommendations found in
Section 11.3 of the SWSI Report were drawn from all
aspects of the SWSI process. However, they should not
be viewed as consensus products of the SWSI Basin
Roundtables.

1.4 Major Findings in the Colorado
Basin

Below is an overview of the individual issues in the
Colorado Basin identified in the SWSI Report. These
findings are provided here to assist the reader in linking
issues in the Colorado Basin to SWSI implementation
and to the goals set forth by the Interbasin Compact
Process.

. Rapid growth in the headwaters areas and lack of
available supplies or storage are significant
challenges to meeting future water needs.

. Recreation and the environment are key drivers in the
basin and are important for economic health and
quality of life.

. Agriculture is important in the basin, especially in the
lower basin (Grand Valley).

S:\ 1177\Basin Reports\Colorado\S 1_ Colorado.doc

Section 1
Introduction

. The success of the Endangered Species program is
critical to help protect current and future water use.

. There is concern over a potential compact shortage
during severe and sustained drought and potential
impacts to in-basin supplies.

. The development of water rights associated with
transbasin projects are a concern and their effect on
in-basin supplies must be considered.

1.5 SWSI Phase 2

The SWSI Report was completed in 2004 and
established a path forward for SWSI based on its
findings. Phase 2 is expected to conclude in mid-2006;
however, full implementation of SWSI elements will take
place over a period of years and decades. In tandem, the
Interbasin Compact Process further establishes the
framework for long-term water supply planning in
Colorado on an interbasin basis. Helping ensure
Colorado's water future is a complex and difficult
challenge. Addressing our water future means that we
must ensure the social, economic, and cultural health
and integrity of all of our river basins.

Goals should be met by developing sound
implementable objectives that can be met regularly over
a longer term if SWSI's success is to be capitalized on.
We now know, based on the SWSI Basin Roundtable
information, Colorado can potentially meet 80 percent
of its M&I water needs by 2030; however, some water
suppliers may need help building infrastructure,
mitigating and permitting projects, enhancing and
improving the environment, and conserving water.
We also now know that the state can reassure the
General Assembly and other state decisionmakers to an
extent never before possible that we are not facing an
immediate water crisis, but long-term challenges. There
are certainly some tough decisions to be made and parts
of the state need to take action sooner than others, but
realistically, none of these tough decisions or actions can
be made overnight or in an atmosphere of crisis.

1.5.1 The 80 Percent Solution for M&I

SWSI has catalogued the specific projects, plans, and
processes that local water suppliers have identified and
are undertaking as components of their own water supply
planning efforts to meet the needs they themselves have
identified. As a whole, if these projects are implemented,
80 percent of the state's long-term M&I needs will be

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