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111. Drip irrigation systems, while conserving water, lead to gradually increasing salt levels, since it does not remove salts from the land as flood irrigation does. IV. Colorado water law does not provide conservation incentives to farmers, since improved irrigation procedures leave extra water in the streams. Farmers lose water rights if their historic consumption decreases. Therefore, the law discourages conservation. v. In 2002, the water leaving Colorado decreased to 5.5 million acre feet (maf) from 11.5 maf on average. 8. Presentation by Eric Kuhn on future water predictions. a. We know that the climate is changing, and a major question is whether we base our predictions on past water records or on anticipated flows. Harris Sherman, the DNR head, is concerned that if Colorado takes a stance that future water levels will be lower, this could decrease Colorado's potential water rights under the Colorado River Compact. b. Climate model simulations suggest that global warming will decrease future Colorado River stream flow and increase the duration and severity of droughts. A warmer future may increase precipitation, but the higher temperatures trump any precipitation increases. We should plan for lower stream flow in the future. c. The Colorado River Compact of 1922 states that the Upper and Lower Basins can each collectively consume 7.5 mafeach year. The 1922 Compact requires Colorado to deliver 75 million acre feet every 10 years to Lower Basin states, as measured at Lee's Ferry 15 miles downstream from Glen Canyon Dam. Colorado is legally entitled to as much as 3.855 maf, computed as follows: Annual Upper Basin allotment: Less: Obligation to deliver 50,000 afto Arizona under the Central Arizonal Project (CAP) 7,500,000 (50.000) Net water available to Upper Basin states Colorado's share of this Upper Basin water determined under the 1948 Upper Colorado River Compact: 7,450,000 x 51.75% Equals Colorado's maximum allotment 3.855375 Since the Colorado River Compact requires Upper Basin states to deliver an actual amount of acre feet of water, rather than dividing the water by percentage so that each basin gets a set percentage of available water as it fluctuates annually, there are bound to be conflicts in the future - ed. d. It is unclear whether Colorado's right to 3.855 maf supersedes the Upper Basin's obligation to deliver 75 maf every 10 years to Lower Basin states, and the US Supreme Court is the ultimate arbiter to decide this. The court may determine that Colorado's 1922 obligation to participate in the delivery of75 mafevery 10 years supersedes its right to 3.855 mafunder the 1948 Upper Basin Compact. A 1988 study indicates that Colorado's right to water produced in Colorado is actually 3.079 maf. Eric Kuhn believes this is a more accurate L\CWCB Imaging\Caleb\Minutes\Colorado\2007\Minutes Mar 2007 CBRTdoc 4 7/l<