Harris 3rd Qrt 07 Newsletter_10-24 single

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a UEI-'i\l1.:r.\IEJ\;" (JF NATU]~L I tESOU 1 teES . The Colorado and the Yampa/White BRTs have been working together in a joint effort to better understand the impact of energy development on water supply needs in both basins. . The four roundtables who comprise the Colorado River system have been meeting to discuss issues on the Colorado River. . The Arkansas, South Platte and Metro BRTs have been meeting to share their water needs and discuss potential solutions to their challenges. . Each Roundtable has the opportunity to present their major water issues and challenges to the IBCC. These presentations provide an informational foundation for cross-basin dialogue. These are just the beginning, and a major focus of our efforts going forward will be to increase this dialogue between basins as this is critical to ensuring a secure water future. The Path Forward Our progress will continue over the coming months. Our objectives in 2008 are to complete the basin needs assessments, create more inter-basin dialogue, move forward on the Colorado River supply availability study and increase public engagement. Together, these activities will help further the fundamental premise upon which The Colorado Water for the 21 st Century Act was based: that Coloradans must work together to address our state's water needs. Our future calls for nothing less. Update on Consumptive Uses Needs Assessments The Consumptive Work Group is tasked with assisting the Basin Roundtable in developing their needs assessments. The Work Group was asked to complete a survey to focus their efforts. This short survey was sent the Consumptive Use Work Group and Basin Roundtable Chairs on October 11, 2007. The survey will gather information on which technical elements should be the focus of the consumptive Work Group. The survey consisted of eleven questions focusing on the Work Group's potential tasks:These tasks include: . Quantifying M&I Demands to 2050 . Status of Identified Projects and Processes . Identify Conservation Opportunities . Addressing Agricultural Needs . Alternative agricultural water Transfer Methods for Water Supply . Assessing the Effects of Climate Variability on Colorado's Consumptive Use Needs . Non-tributary Groundwater and Water Use Sustainability . Recalculate the Gap Participants were also asked how the Consumptive Work Group could best be utilized. Results of the survey will be communicated to the Basin Roundtables and the Consumptive Use Work Group and will be summarized in the next quarterly newsletter. _ .-l~'_ I .. ............................"' _All.... ~.... -.....-.... .........,..,........ ... 'il&il..-r'WfllIII..... ............'.._ "'--II'J .........,.rj ",,-.,...llIIl .._~ ~ ....,.. ..... ..._ .,..........' ....n...............................,......... ........... I........., ........" ....~.. ...........!li 'w. 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Ii.- :;:::-.--.... _H ) ~" .r 1I\ Update on Nonconsumptive Use Needs Assessments The methodology being utilized by the Basin Roundtables to complete their nonconsumptive needs assessments is focusing on three steps-building upon existing attributes, prioritization, and quantification. Over the last 3 months, each Basin Roundtable has reviewed and commented on the GIS coverages of the environmental and recreational attributes compiled during SWSI Phase 2. Each of the Basin Roundtables has met at least once to provide input on additional attributes they would like mapped and have begun the process of considering priorities in each of their basins. It is anticipated that there will be a February meeting with the Nonconsumptive Work Group to review each Basins' additional GIS attributes and to discuss environmental and recreational priorities. Several of the Roundtables have requested further information on the quantification methodologies that were covered in general at the May meeting. On Monday, December 17,2007 at 10:00 a.m. in Glenwood Springs at the Community Center, we will have a presentation by the technical experts from the technical support team covering these methodologies. There will be a presentation on site-specific quantification techniques as well as a flow evaluation tool that has been developed by The Nature Conservancy to evaluate environmental and recreation flow needs on a broader scale than the site-specific approaches. All work group members or basin roundtable members with an interest in learning more about these quantification techniques are encouraged to attend the December Meeting. - 4 -