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CWCB's consumptive use mo del StateCU. This will <br />be looked at on both the demand side by this <br />Agricultural irrigated acreage, diversions, <br />Consumptive Group and on the supply side in the <br />consumptive use, and shortages were identified in <br />Supply Availability Study. <br />the SWSI Report. There have been changes in <br />irrigated acreage due to urbanization, water <br />transfers, and impacts of well augmentation <br />requirements. Irrigated acreage and updated <br />Several roundtables have identified that the <br />estimates of consumptive use based on high <br />increasing demand for Colorado's limited water <br />altitude coefficients will be made. <br />supplies suggests the need to examine how our <br />Limited progress was made on agricultural water <br />water resources can be used more efficiently. One <br />efficiency by the SWSI Phase 2 Conservation and <br />method to maximize beneficial use is to use <br />Efficiency TRT and this remains a significant <br />surface and groundwater re sources in a more fully <br />challenge. Based on initial work, there appears to <br />integrated manner through conjunctive use <br />be some opportunities to achieve additional <br />management. This is a proven strategy that <br />efficiencies in agricultural water use. However, <br />recharges aquifers during wet periods and relies on <br />since agricultural return flows are used by <br />them during dry periods. Studies conducted by the <br />downstream water users, at a watershed level <br />CWCB and Colorado Geological Survey have shown <br />there are significant limitations in the overall net <br />that considerable storage exists in both alluvial <br />potential savings that can be realized. <br />and bedrock aquifers throughout the State. <br />Nevertheless, since agricultural water use accounts <br />for over 85 percent of total water use in the state, <br />The current Gap identified in SWSI is 118,200 AF <br />follow-up efforts should in clude this group of water <br />based on the ability of the IPPs to address new <br />users. CWCB and Colorado State University are <br />demands. An update to the IPPs and the new <br />working with the agricultural community to further <br />demand projections out to 2050 will be used to <br />examine these issues and opportunities. <br />recalculate for each basin. Additional <br />considerations of climate variability and <br />groundwater sustainability will also be considered <br />SWSI Phase 2 provided an extensive look at all in recalculating the Gap. Climate variability will <br />alternatives to a traditional transfer and concluded play a role in determining the revised Gap and is <br />that fallowing has the most potential statewide, described in detail below. In the South Metro area <br />and may require state assistance. Interruptible it is also anticipated that aquifer production will <br />supply strategies will also be assessed. There may decline by 40 to 80 percent by the year 2050, and <br />be a role for the state, through the CWCB for that municipal well production will decline. <br />example, to "level the playing field" through the Conjunctive use of available surface water supplies <br />use of incentives to encourage M&I providers and can reduce these costs and decrease the annual <br />users to use alternatives to traditional agricultural demand on the aquifers by 50 percent. <br />transfers in order to foster the maximum <br />utilization of the state's waters and to <br />ensure that other non-market values (open <br />space, wildlife habitat) are retained. <br />Several roundtables have requested that <br />this move forward. <br />Global warming is expected to alter the <br />pattern of water supply and use in <br />Colorado and should be factored into any <br />long-range planning. Global warming- <br />based changes to supply availability can be <br />examined by comparing projected changes <br />in streamflow to current hydrographs at <br />locations throughout the State, and <br />estimating evaporative loss to reservoirs. <br />The change in consumptive water demands <br />in Colorado will be evaluated using the <br />- 3 - <br />