South_Platte_BRT_Mtg_2_Summary

• Basin: South Platte
• Title: Meeting Summary 2
• Date: 2/25/2004
• SWSI - Doc Type: Summaries

South Platte Basin Roundtable Technical Meeting #2
Meeting Summary

. Conservation and reuse have benefits but they also have consequences of reducing water
needed for downstream uses, both traditional agriculture and M&I, and recreation and the
environment.
. A participant cited reuse in Westminster and elsewhere as "doing more with the same."
Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs all have reuse programs, and reuse provides IS percent of
Westminster's peak-day supply.
. A participant noted that SWSI provides a structure for making decisions on water. The
transparency of this process and the ability to see details of the alternatives evaluation will
help lead to SWSI's success. The value of SWSI will be in how it is used and continually
updated/implemented - it should be more than just a "snapshot."
. A participant stated that it was evident from attending many SWSI meetings around the state
how little interbasin communication there has historically been, and that there appears to be
a disconnect between land use planning and water supply. The participant noted that there is
a fundamental issue in that the state demographer's population projections don't consider
water availability. He noted that it is also evident that instream flow is important to the
public and the BRT members around the state, and he suggested that there is a need for
better prioritization of instream flows; better quantification is needed to move this forward in
SWSI.
. A participant noted that the options catalog should distinguish between generic techniques
vs. specific projects. The participant stated that the Western Governor's Association, A WW A,
and A WRA may be able to contribute to SWSI. The participant also noted that small
communities don't have the same resources for planning as big cities, and that it would be
helpful if we could all share GIS and other data. The participant stated that it is critical to
identify new supply vs. reallocation of supplies in the options catalog. Finally, the participant
noted that the 1990s were wetter than average, and that climate changes must be considered
in water planning.
. A participant suggested that the State Legislature should not pass laws to prohibit bluegrass,
but rather to not allow a requirement for bluegrass.
. A participant voiced concern about aquifer levels dropping in the state, and the interaction
between groundwater levels and surface water use.
. A participant asked that BRT members keep in mind that some of the South Platte Basin's
current water supplies come from Western Slope.
. A participant noted that aquifer mining is a significant issue.

CDIVI

10

South Platte BRT Mtg #2 Summary.doc 4/16/2004