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<br />objective (i.e~, "Provide water where needed to protect and enhance aquatic habitat") I was <br />pleased to see water quality recognized as an important consideration under the fourth <br />subobjective. <br /> <br />(7) Promote Cost-Effectiveness. <br /> <br />The second subobjective refers to promoting positive cost/benefit While I do not object to the <br />concept, it is important that the analysis of benefits and costs includes the full range of costs <br />(including environmental) and not just the direct costs that are most easily quantified. I would <br />also emphasize that efficiency improvements can be among the most cost-effective options for <br />meeting water needs. <br /> <br />(8) Protect Cultural Values. <br /> <br />I'm not certain how water supply projects and programs can "protect, encourage, and enhance <br />cultural diversity.'; If there is something CWCB or CDM had in mind with this objective, <br />perhaps you can state it more clearly. The fifth subobjective ("minimize harm to downstream <br />users") seems out of place - does this not, like the compact issue mentioned above, fall into the <br />realm of non-discretionary actions given the prohibition against injury under Colorado water law? <br /> <br />(9) Provide for Healthy Colorado EconomY4 <br /> <br />This seems a little grandiose. Water supply cannot provide for a healthy Colorado economy - the <br />state of Colorado's economy will be shaped by a far broader range of forces. I do appreciate the <br />basin protection sentiment behind the third subobjective - the idea that one basin's economy (and <br />environment) should not be sacrificed for another's, but that we need solutions that work for all <br />of Colorado. Perhaps this goal could be recast to look at managing water resources in a manner <br />consistent with maintaining a healthy Colorado economy, or something of that kind - so that <br />water does not become a barrier to a healthy economy even though water supply cannot assure or <br />"provide for" a health economy itself. <br /> <br />(10) Provide for Operational Flexibility. <br /> <br />The first subobjective is oddly worded - it seemS to have to do with short-term transfer of uses to <br />some other "higher beneficial use~' (perhaps a dry-year ag to urban lease?). But it is impossible to <br />shift the water to that other use on the one hand and at the same time still maintain the original <br />use on the other. Of course" it would be possible to maintain the historic rights, and to return the <br />historic use after the short-term transfer. This subobjective should be modified to more clearly <br />explain its purpose, which I take to be encouraging interruptible supply arrangements that <br />maintain agricultural uses long--term while providing short-term 'insurance' for urban uses during <br />dry periods. <br /> <br />Another subobjective that could be added here (or perhaps under #2 or #3) would be to "Improve <br />infrastructure connectivity to move water from where supplies are to where they are needed." <br />