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

urban Denver. The participant stated that these areas should be cataloged/recognized in
SWSI.
. A participant voiced an opinion that efficiency and conservation should be the first steps in
meeting demands, and that they should be the highest priorities in water planning. The
participant also noted that the South Platte River is important for recreation in Greeley. The
contributor also stated that water planners need to address increases in agricultural water
efficiency, and that she and others would be willing to pay more taxes to subsidize
agriculture.
. A participant questioned the SWSI assumptions about population growth, stating that water
planners need to entertain the concept of limiting growth. Other steps only "buy us time."
The commenter stated that it is possible to have economic growth without population
growth, and that our water problems will perpetuate without growth management.
. A participant cited the existence of bird habitat from the South Platte headwaters all the way
to the state line into Nebraska. The commenter noted that SWSI should focus on
conservation, efficient use of existing and future supplies, and flexibility in use. The
commenter also stated that variable instream flows greater than minimum requirements are
important for recreation.
. A participant voiced support for conservation and efficiency, as well as the importance of
water for wildlife.
. A participant urged the group to look at opportunities in conservation, e.g., xeriscaping
businesses, higher-technology irrigation equipment, etc. The participant stated that more
storage will dry up streams.
. A participant suggested that water planners look to conservation before additional storage,
noting that instream flows are critical to our quality of life.
. A participant stated that there is no single "silver bullet" to meeting future demands. The
participant suggested that planners look at expanding/ rehabilitating existing reservoirs, and
that more reuse is important to reducing reliance on Western Slope water. The participant
suggested that all alternatives should have conservation/ efficiency components, and asked
that the state increase efforts to notify the public of future BRT meetings.
. A participant suggested including year 2002-03 drought conditions in all analyses, indicating
that planning should consider the average year as the "best case." The participant suggested
that evapotranspiration data, not just evaporation, be considered, noting that
evapotranspiration exceeds the available water supply in some areas. The participant
concluded with a statement that continued groundwater use in mountain areas will dry up
wells because there is insufficient recharge.
. A member of the Governor's Water Availability Task Force asked "how do we do more with
less? How is that concept incorporated into SWSI?" A BRT member cited the Tamarack
Project as an example - multiple uses of facilities. Another example cited was operation of
facilities differently to meet multiple objectives.
. Agriculture Commissioner Don Ament noted that the South Platte River didn't always flow
year-round, as return flows from water users enhances flows. Efficiency should be thought of
in terms of multiple uses of water - irrigation and M&I developments, the act of putting
water to beneficial use created an entire ecosystem by allowing the South Platte River to
become a "larger" river with year-round flows. We don't waste water in Colorado - Denver's
and other cities' return flows are used to grow crops downstream.

CDIVI

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