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<br />Section 1 <br />Introduction <br />IJ 1111 <br /> <br />Assembly to make informed decisions regarding the <br />management and use of Colorado's surface and <br />groundwater resources. <br /> <br />In many areas, local planning entities have completed <br />studies, identified projects, and are capable of <br />implementing those projects. SWSI documented and <br />summarized these identified projects or processes that <br />are in place to address future water needs. Where <br />entities need implementation assistance, SWSI <br />addressed planning and implementation needs, identified <br />projects for possible implementation, and developed <br />strategies for project implementation including potential <br />cooperative and collaborative efforts. For areas where <br />specific projects were not identified by water providers or <br />water users, SWSI relied on a stakeholder process. The <br />options developed by the SWSI stakeholder process <br />generally fall within the following categories: <br /> <br />. Conservation <br />. Agricultural transfers <br />. Reservoir storage <br />. Conjunctive use of alluvial or non-tributary <br />groundwater <br />. Water reuse <br />. Control of non-native phreatophytes (water <br />consuming plants) <br /> <br />By taking both a basin and statewide perspective, SWSI <br />has identified issues and water supply needs and <br />projects that may require coordination by more than one <br />planning entity or that may be beyond the capabilities of <br />a single entity. Through the SWSI effort, CWCB has <br />identified possible solutions to achieve a cooperative and <br />collaborative initiative. The Interbasin Compact Process <br />will build on this by further enhancing collaboration <br />among the river basins to develop implementable and <br />sustainable solutions. <br /> <br />1.3 Major Findings of SWSI <br /> <br />SWSI explored all aspects of Colorado's water use and <br />development on both a statewide and an individual basin <br />basis. SWSI focused on in-basin issues first; analyses of <br />supply and demand at the statewide level are being <br />conducted as part of Phase 2. Major findings identified <br />during the first phase of work are based on technical <br />analyses and feedback gathered through SWSI Basin <br />Roundtable input. <br /> <br />CDIVI <br /> <br />1-2 <br /> <br />Even though some of these findings are readily apparent <br />to some, it was important that they be affirmed as part of <br />building a foundation and common understanding. Other <br />findings were determined and/or clarified through the <br />SWSI process. These findings are summarized below. <br /> <br />1. Significant increases in Colorado's population - <br />together with agricultural water needs and an <br />increased focus on recreational and <br />environmental uses - will intensify competition <br />for water. <br /> <br />2. Projects and water management planning <br />processes that local municipal and industrial <br />(M&I) providers are implementing or planning to <br />implement have the ability to meet about <br />80 percent of Colorado's M&I water needs <br />through 2030, under the most optimistic <br />scenario. <br /> <br />3 . To the extent that these identified M&I projects <br />and processes are not successfully <br />implemented, Colorado will see a significantly <br />greater reduction in irrigated agricultural lands <br />as M&I water providers seek additional <br />permanent transfers of agricultural water rights <br />to provide for the demands that would otherwise <br />have been met by specific projects and <br />processes. <br /> <br />4. Supplies are not necessarily where demands <br />are; localized shortages exist, especially in <br />headwater areas, and compact entitlements in <br />some basins are not fully utilized. <br /> <br />5. Increased reliance on nonrenewable, non- <br />tributary groundwater for permanent water <br />supply brings serious reliability and <br />sustainability concerns in some areas, <br />particularly along the Front Range. <br /> <br />6. In-basin solutions can help resolve the <br />remaining 20 percent gap between M&I supply <br />and demand, but there will be tradeoffs and <br />impacts on other uses - especially agriculture <br />and the environment. <br /> <br />7. Water conservation (beyond Level 1 ) will be <br />relied upon as a major tool for meeting future <br />M&I demands, but conservation alone cannot <br />meet all of Colorado's future M&I needs. <br /> <br />S:\ 1177\Basin Reports\Colorado\S 1_ Colorado.doc <br />