NorthPlatteBasinWaterSupplyandNeedsReport

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Section 10 Evaluation Framework 'Jill Table 10-1 SWSI Water Management Objectives and Performance Measures Future Feasibility Level I Performance Measures 6. Promote Cost Effectiveness . Allocate cost to all beneficiaries fairly Not used for Reconnaissance Level screening All alternatives will address this in implementation based on allocation of costs. . Achieve benefits at lowest cost On scale of 1 to 5: 1 is highest unit cost; and 5 Estimate of capital and O&M costs over the life has lowest unit cost. of the project/alternative . Provide for funding eligibility On scale of 1 to 5: 1 has low chance for federal Qualitative score based on if project qualifies funding; and 5 has high chance for federal for federal funding. funding. . Mitigate for third-party economic impacts Not used for Reconnaissance Level screening All alternatives will address this in implementation. 7. Protect Cultural Values . Maintain quality of life unique to each For urban areas, on scale of 1 to 5: 1 is a loss Cultural values may be specific to subbasins. basin of current irrigation and landscape practices, Qualitative score will reflect the specific issues such as bluegrass lawns; and 5 maintains the unique to each basin. ability to landscape as desired and water at an affordable price. For rural areas, on a scale of 1 to 5: 1 is a loss of the current economy and related quality of life; and 5 maintains the current economy and quality of life. . Maintain open space On a scale of 1 to 5: 1 is a loss of open space; Estimate of lost open space (in acres). and 5 is no (or minimal) loss of open space. 8. Provide for Operational Flexibility . Provide for short-term transfer of water to On scale of 1 to 5: 1 does not produce Amount of water produced by interruptible different users/uses, while protecting interruptible supply options; and 5 does water supply options such as water banks or water rights produce interruptible supply options. short-term leases (acre-feet/yr). 10. Comply with All Applicable Laws, Regulations, and Water Rights . Baseline requirement for all alternatives; Not applicable Not applicable not used in comparison of alternatives 10.4 Individual Preferences Individual Basin Roundtable members' preferences were solicited for each of the river basins in order to determine the region-by-region values and interests. To solicit preferences, each of the participating members of the SWSI Basin Roundtables was asked to complete a weighting exercise for the water management objectives. An approach called Pair-Wise Comparison was used for this effort. In Pair-Wise Comparison, a person must indicate their preference between two objectives, compared to each other. For example, which objective is more important to you, Enhance Recreational Opportunities or Protect Cultural Values? Basin Roundtable members were told that although both objectives might be important to them, they must choose which is more important. Each possible pair of objectives - 28 combinations in all - was CONI 10-6 put before each of the Roundtable members. Individual results were maintained, but anonymous to the other Roundtable members. The Pair-Wise Comparison is not a voting process. Rather, it was used to identify and illustrate the values and preferences different individuals place on goals and objectives for water management in Colorado for use in SWSI. By exploring these different preferences, discovery of common ground or consensus is more likely. This helps move the process from "position-based" debates to "interest-based" dialogue. A position-based debate is one where stakeholders lay down positions, such as "new reservoirs are absolutely needed" or "water conservation is the only way to solve our water needs." Both of these positions are intractable - often leading to stalemate. Any alternative that has a S:\1177\Basin Reports\North Platte\S10_North Platte.doc