Water Research Institute Article

Home Browse Search

Coloradans are faced with water issues and problems that will surely become more demanding as the state's population continues to grow, and as the demand for water puts an even greater stress on the state's already stretched resources. While all areas of the state face similar pressures from growing metropolitan complexes and other demands for water, each area has unique circumstances that must be recognized. The Interbasin Compact Committee (IBCC) and the Basin Roundtables that are created by HB05-1177, also known as the Colorado Water for the 21 st Century Act, will allow the different water basins within the state to work together to find long-term collaborative solutions to the issues that currently exist and may arise in the ulture. There is no need to solve problems that currently do not exist, but the flexibility created within the roundtable structure will allow problems to be addressed before those problems become a serious issue in a time of crisis. At this point in Colorado's development, sub-basin conflicts are as significant as traditional east slope-west slope discord. The situation is generally analogous to the situations that existed during the golden age of interstate compacts, and thus may be more amenable to that model, which exemplifies a win-win solution in that each party received something it wanted. Many of the same factors exist today as in 1922 when Delph Carpenter helped negotiate the Colorado River Compact. Basins are attempting to gain advantages over others, and litigation is being used as the method of achieving their goals. A process that is similar to the one Carpenter used will require leadership to expand traditional thought processes beyond parochial squabbles and demands. Consensus building, as well as patience, will be required to accomplish the ultimate goal of agreement. This new law sets up a voluntary process that allows basins to participate as much or as little as they want in the roundtable process, once they've completed their mandated role of creating a water needs assessment for their basin. Upon the completion of the needs assessment, each basin will know what waters they have that are already appropriated, and how much water they have that is unappropriated and can possibly be used to help solve the shortfall of another basin and satisfy new demands in the basin. While this cannot be a forced process, I believe that, with a little give and take, people can have more control over the outcome of any dispute that may arise by negotiating a solution, rather than resorting to litigation. Successful negotiation needs to be based on uJlI disclosure, trust among the participants, presentation of accurate data, and time. Delph Carpenter repeatedly underscored the necessity of accurate, credible information as a basis for negotiations. Several common themes also came from his successuJl compact negotiations. The longer discussion continues and the more freely ideas can be exchanged, the more likely the parties will move towards a middle ground in which all can agree. If there is accurate data, water problems can be resolved in a manner beneficial to ulture generations.