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<br />
<br />3
<br />1Jt:I'Al1.:f,MENI' of
<br />NATURAL
<br />RESOURCES
<br />
<br />Basin-wide Water Needs
<br />Assessments
<br />
<br />Developing a deeper understanding of the water
<br />needs of each basin is a complex task. To do this,
<br />the Interbasin Compact process created a multi-
<br />pronged framework designed to answer four
<br />questions.
<br />
<br />1. What are each basin's consumptive water needs
<br />(municipal, industrial, and agricultural)?
<br />
<br />2. What are each basin's nonconsumptive water
<br />needs (environmental and recreational)?
<br />
<br />3. What are our available water supplies (surface
<br />and groundwater) and how much water is
<br />unappropriated?
<br />
<br />4. What projects or methods are available to meet
<br />our identified water needs?
<br />
<br />Several efforts are underway to help the BRT
<br />answer these questions. Each basin is using the
<br />information learned through SWSI as the starting
<br />point and core of their needs assessment. They are
<br />adding to this information by incorporating other
<br />appropriate sources of information. For example
<br />the Colorado BRT is using the UPCO Study and the
<br />Arkansas BRT is using the documents supporting the
<br />Cooperative Flow Agreement.
<br />
<br />BRTs also have the opportunity to identify
<br />additional information needs and submit "task
<br />orders" to our technical assistance team. For
<br />example, the Metro and South Platte BRTs are
<br />examining the impact of reusable water not being
<br />available to downstream users. The Yampa and
<br />Colorado BRTs are taking a closer look at the water
<br />needs associated with energy development. The
<br />Gunnison BRT is refining the water demand
<br />estimates for their smaller water providers and
<br />rural communities. Many of the BRTs have
<br />requested assistance with their nonconsumptive
<br />needs assessments. These efforts of the BRTs are
<br />being supplemented by several additional
<br />activities.
<br />
<br />. Consumptive Workgroup: A group of BRT
<br />members and water leaders from across the state
<br />is examining our consumptive needs. The goal of
<br />this group is to assist the BRTs in their
<br />consumptive use needs assessments through the
<br />development of a common technical platform
<br />and water supply alternatives on a statewide
<br />basis.
<br />
<br />. Nonconsumptive Workgroup: Similarly, a non-
<br />consumptive work group is helping the BRTs with
<br />their non-consumptive needs assessment. With
<br />the assistance of this group, each BRT is
<br />identifying important environmental and
<br />
<br />recreational attributes within their basin and
<br />pursuing ways to meet their nonconsumptive
<br />needs.
<br />
<br />. Colorado River Supply Availability Study: The
<br />Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), in
<br />consultation and cooperation with the BRTs, is
<br />studying how much water is available in Colorado
<br />River system.
<br />
<br />When complete, these processes will come
<br />together and give us a much greater understanding
<br />of the water needs, challenges, and opportunities
<br />facing our state. They will enable better planning
<br />and decisionmaking at the local and state level and
<br />help ensure a secure water future for all
<br />Coloradans.
<br />
<br />Water Supply Reserve
<br />
<br />Account
<br />
<br />As each BRT goes through this process, they are
<br />identifying projects that can help meet their water
<br />needs but for which additional financial support is
<br />needed. That is the purpose of the WSRA. Through
<br />state severance tax dollars, the General Assembly
<br />is making available grants and loans to implement
<br />water activities. Requests for funds from the WSRA
<br />must be approved by the local BRTs and are then
<br />forwarded to the CWCB for evaluation and
<br />approval.
<br />
<br />Throughout 2007, WSRA funds were used to support
<br />a variety of critical programs. For example:
<br />
<br />. The Colorado River Water Conservation District
<br />and several Front Range water providers are
<br />using $200,000 to identify a long-term source of
<br />10,825 acre-feet of water to meet flow
<br />recommendations under the Endangered Fish
<br />Recovery Program for the "15-mile Reach."
<br />
<br />. The South Platte BRT approved $176,000 for a
<br />Comprehensive Feasibility Study of Ovid
<br />Reservoir.
<br />
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