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Address~n~ A~ricultural Needs Agricultural irrigated acreage, diversions, consumptive use, and shortages were identified in the SW51 Report. There have been changes in irrigated acreage due to urbanization, water transfers, and impacts of well augmentation requirements. Irrigated acreage and updated estimates of consumptive use based on high altitude coefficients will be made. Limited progress was made on agricultural water efficiency by the SWSI Phase 2 Conservation and Efficiency TRT and this remains a significant challenge. Based on initial work, there appears to be some opportunities to achieve additional efficiencies in agricultural water use. However, since agricultural return flows are used by downstream water users, at a watershed level there are significant limitations in the overall net potential savings that can be realized. Nevertheless, since agricultural water use accounts for over 85 percent of total water use in the state, follow-up efforts should include this group of water users. CWCB and Colorado State University are working with the agricultural community to further examine these issues and opportunities. A/ternative Agricu~tural Water Transfer Methods for Water Supply SWSI Phase 2 provided an extensive look at all alternatives to a traditional transfer and concluded that fallowing has the most potential statewide, and may require state assistance. Interruptible supply strategies will also be assessed. There may be a role for the state, through the CWCB for example, to "level the playing field" through the use of incentives to encourage M~tl providers and users to use alternatives to traditional agricultural transfers in order to foster the maximum utilization of the state's waters and to ensure that other non-market values (open space, wildlife habitat) are retained. Several roundtables have requested that this move forward. Assess~ng the Effects of Climate I/ar~ability on Colorado's Consumptive Use Needs Global warming is expected to alter the pattern of water supply and use in Colorado and should be factored into any long-range planning. Global warming- based changes to supply availability can be examined by comparing projected changes in streamflow to current hydrographs at locations throughout the State, and esti mati ng evaporative loss to reservoi rs. The change in consumptive water demands in Colorado will be evaluated using the CWCB's consumptive use model StateCU. This will be looked at on both the demand side by this Consumptive Group and on the supply side in the Supply Availability Study. Non-tributary Groundwater and Water Use Sustainab~~ity Several roundtables have identified that the increasing demand for Colorado's limited water supplies suggests the need to examine how our water resources can be used more efficiently. One method to maximize beneficial use is to use surface and groundwater resources in a more fully integrated manner through conjunctive use management. This is a proven strategy that recharges aquifers during wet periods and relies on them during dry periods. Studies conducted by the CWCB and Colorado Geological Survey have shown that considerable storage exists in both alluvial and bedrock aquifers throughout the State. Recalcu~ate the Gap The current Gap identified in SWSI is 118,200 AF based on the ability of the IPPs to address new demands. An update to the IPPs and the new demand projections out to 2050 will be used to recalculate for each basin. Additional considerations of climate variability and groundwater sustainability will also be considered in recalculating the Gap. Climate variability will play a role in determining the revised Gap and is described in detail below. In the South Metro area it is also anticipated that aquifer production will decline by 40 to 80 percent by the year 2050, and that municipal well production will decline. Conjunctive use of available surface water supplies can reduce these costs and decrease the annual demand on the aquifers by 50 percent. Sustainably Meet Municipal & Industrial Demands Sustainably Meet Agricultural Demands Optimize Existing and Future Water Supplies Enhance Recreational Opportunities Provide for Environmental Enhancement Promote Cost Effectiveness I ProtectCultural Values I ~ Provide for Operational Flexibility ~ Comply with All Applicable Laws, Regulations, and Water Rights -3- h~ ~-, ~ `<i-~: ~j ~~ . ~ . vy~s~ Ar "~ .~F . a _,. `,Pi - .~ }: ~ ~ ~ { .:~ k ; L- J c;~ ii ~ ~~~;~i ~~ ~~ ,~~ s~~tir.~,,~i ~~.., ; !: r~r~-r~~~a. ~~:~~LIL~[rL4