Arkansas Basin_Water Supply and Needs

• Basin Roundtable: Arkansas
• Title: Water Supply & Needs Report for the Arkansas Basin
• Date: 6/1/2006
• Author: CDM
• Basin Roundtables - Doc Type: Needs Assessment Documents

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Arkansas Basin Water Supply
and Needs Report

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Section 1 Introduction

1.1 The I nterbasin Compact Process.............................................................................................. 1-1
1.2 The Statewide Water Supply Initiative....................................................................................... 1-1

1.3 Major Findings of SWSI............................................................................................................. 1-2

1.3.1 Major Statewide Findings......................................................................................... 1-2
1.3.2 Major Findings in the Arkansas Basin....................................................................... 1-2
1.4 The Path Forward for SWSI ...................................................................................................... 1-3
1.4.1 The 80 Percent Solution for M&I............................................................................... 1-3
1.4.2 The 20 Percent M&I Gap, Agricultural Shortages, and Environmental and
Recreational Enhancements..................................................................................... 1-4
1.5 An Overview of the Arkansas Basin Water Supply and Needs Assessment............................. 1-5

Section 2 Statewide Demographic, Economic, and Social Setting
2.1 Colorado's Historical and Projected Demographics .................................................................. 2-1

2.1.1 Population .................................................................................................................2-1

2.1.2 Additional Demographic Information ......................................................................... 2-2

Section 3 Physical Environment of the Arkansas Basin

3.1 Statewide Overview................................................................................................................... 3-1

3.2 Arkansas Basin Physical Environment...................................................................................... 3-2

3.2.1 Geography................................................................................................................ 3-2

3.2.2 Climate...................................................................................................................... 3-2

3.2.3 Topography............................................................................................................... 3-2

3.2.4 Land Use.................................................................................................................. 3-2

3.2.5 Surface Geology....................................................................................................... 3-2

3.2.6 Surface Water........................................................................................................... 3-2

3.2.7 Groundwater............................................................................................................. 3-3

3.2.8 Water Quality............................................................................................................ 3-4

3.2.9 Areas of Environmental Concern, Special Attention Areas, and Threatened
and Endangered Species......................................................................................... 3-4
3.2.10 Energy and Mineral Resources................................................................................. 3-5

Section 4 Legal Framework for Water Use

4.1 Overview of State Water Laws.................................................................................................. 4-1
4.1.1 Colorado/s Prior Appropriation System..................................................................... 4-1
4.1.1.1 The Priority System................................................................................. 4-2

4.1.1.2 Beneficial Use......................................................................................... 4-2

4.1.1.3 Maximum Utilization................................................................................ 4-3
4.2 Specific Tools for Addressing Water Needs ..............................................................................4-3
4.2.1 Water Storage Rights............................................................................................... 4-3

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