Minutes Mar 2007 CBRT

• Basin Roundtable: Colorado
• Title: Minutes
• Date: 3/26/2007
• Basin Roundtables - Doc Type: Minutes

11. Energy water needs assessment: There's a data gap, since the amount of water
projected to be needed for Western Slope energy development is either unknown
or undisclosed. The grant request will aim at compiling this data. The energy
subcommittee wants to comment on the EIS being prepared by the BLM
regarding oil shale development. Congressman John Salazar introduced the
"More Water and Energy Bill of2007" to direct the USGS to study how much
water is produced by the Colorado Basin.

111. The Eagle River Reservoir enlargement grant for $250,000 was approved, with
the condition that the funds could not pay for costs already incurred and paid.

IV. The Vail Ditch grant was approved, and Grand County is having the water rights
appraised.

7. Discussion by James Pritchett, PhD., Agricultural Economist, CSU Fort Collins.

a. About 15 CBRT members attended a discussion led by Dr. James Pritchett regarding
agriculture's impact on the Colorado economy, and impacts that Colorado's projected
population growth will have on Colorado agriculture.

b. Agriculture consumes about 80% of water consumed in Colorado. SWSI predicts that there
will be a 20% gap in water needed by 2030, or 600,000 acre feet, and Dr. Pritchett agrees
with that analysis. Below is a summary of the projected population increase:

Water Description Projected 2030 Projected Projected
Division population population population
Increase increase %
1 South Platte 4,911,600 2,000,000 65%
2 Arkansas 1,293,000 500,000 55%
3 Rio Grande 62,700 35%
4 Gunnison
5 Colorado River 492,600 99%
6 Yampa
7 San Juan
Total

c. There are four suggested solutions to the water gap:

1. Conservation: Today, 1 acre foot is assumed to supply a family of 4 for a year;
with conservation, 1 acre foot is assumed to supply 3 families of 4.

11. Additional reservoir capacity. Northern wants to build the 170,000 AF Glade
Reservoir at Ted's Place by the mouth of the Poudre River near Fort Collins.

111. Pipelines. Aaron Million (Million Conservation Resource Group) is proposing a
pipeline from the Green River to run east along Interstate 80 and south along
Interstate 25 at a cost of $377 million; this is projected to supply 200,000 to
400,000 additional AF.

IV. Agricultural transfers.

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