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± <br />Maintaining green grass along the Front Range is an issue. We don?t want to put <br />the agriculture industry out of business, but we want to maintain green open <br />space. <br />± <br />Allowing private companies to sell untreated water for agriculture and non-potable <br />uses is a good way to increase supply. <br />± <br />We need to look at preventative measures for decreasing water demands. <br />Houses and lawns are getting bigger and conservation needs to play a bigger role <br />in solving our water problems. <br />± <br />One way to get beyond fighting over water is to look at and quantify the demands <br />on the river. Identify quantifiable goals for the river, including environmental <br />goals, to help head off historical conflicts. Then use a collaborative approach for <br />management. <br />Miscellaneous : <br />± <br />There is a major analysis called the South Metropolitan Water Supply Study. This <br />study looks at coordinated conjunctive use of groundwater and it should be <br />considered by SWSI. <br />± <br />Another study that SWSI should consider is the Jefferson County Mountain <br />Groundwater Resource study that can be found on the website of the U.S <br />Geological Service. <br />± <br />New Mexico completed a study in 1992 that is particularly relevant to Colorado. <br />New Mexico looked at tree ring studies going back 2000 years and concluded <br />that 1950 was the worst drought it had experienced in its history. The rainfall <br />during New Mexico?s 1950 drought is the same amount that we receive on an <br />average annual basis in Colorado. <br />± <br />A study of dual water systems (ditch and reservoir companies) has been <br />conducted in northern Colorado by John Wilkens-Wells. It considered a system <br />being used in Utah, where ditch and reservoir companies are subsidiaries of the <br />utility and become a raw distributor of water. The main advantage of this is that <br />the irrigation companies maintain the control of the water and the money to <br />maintain agricultural resources. <br />± <br />Agricultural success is important to water management. The USDA is full of <br />information about best practices in agriculture that can be most productive, and <br />these should be provided to the farmers. <br />