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Comments to SWSJ, November 3, 2003, by John Wiener 1 Memorandum to SWSI; C/O ewes, Mr" Rick Brown, and COM Inc.$' Attn: Mr. Kelly DiNatale Regarding comments on objectives and criteria, SWSI Process From John Wiener (writing solely as an individual) November 3,2003 This memo js to provide notes on pojnts raised or suggested by the earUer meeting5~ in hope that these may be useful for the forthcoming proceedings. It is expected that few of the participants jn the process have the leisure to browse the literature cited, but it seems preferable to increase access rather than make assertions about what it says without providing a fair chance to see jt Since the issue of climate and drought was forcefully raised by John Henzf I have inc'uded some notes from the drought, climate variabjlity and change literature4 I believe it is important that the practical implication is one that shouJd have uno regretsll regardress of the way things turn out- that is, to cope with what we now understand to be a larger range of variabUity than we.ve recently expariencedt and to Usave aU the piecesll of our water distribution systems. That dovetails with the under-appreciated importance of preserving agricuftural water suppJy systems and carefuUy considering the public values and benefits of the so-called uinefficienciesll in water distribution~ The ultimate outcomes of the statewide water supply initiative must inevitab'y address and influence the distribution systems being suppried. These comments incrude: Comments Regarding Objectives Ust as of South Platte Roundtable Meeting Small acreages as a factor in haY1 feed and water demand Urban amenity vafues and the agricurtural legacy Agricultural efficiency and environmental varues The problem of rura' sustainability and agricultural viability What about the climate? Practical considerations raised by drought historYJ claims of increased climate variability and change: background relevant to issues raised What practica' advice, if anYJ can be drawn from the climate variability literature? A little background on the nclimate impacts.' literature Reports on Cororado places and sectors Drought and the past variability The climate jmpacts concerns And, a memorandum: The Irrigation Efficiency Problem For Water Banking~ other Agriculture to Municipality Transfers and IISaved or Safvaged Waterlf Legislation Comments Regarding Objectives list as of South Platte Roundtable Meeting: Objectjve 1 - Reliably meet demands. A. PredictabUity versus reliabUity. The critical quality for water supply is predictabUity, of either water or a substjtute, because that warrants investment (by a homebuyer paying a tap fee or by a farm or firm considering facilities acquisition)~ The reJiabifity of water supply for some purposest such as domestic or culinary consumption, is not subject to substitutionJ but many business activities are~ The business activity can almost a'ways accept a substitute (money) in place of performing as usual. It will be important to make use of this in the future. Currently, the vafue of a water right is based on its predictability, which is caned its seniority under the prior approprjation system. B. Plan A, Plan Band PJan C: a predictability example, in response to a roundtable discussion about the reliability jdea~ If there are adequate plans lard. certainty can have a high value even if there is error. In CoJorado water management, in particular, a farm that leases some of its water to a city under a competent and careful contract will be funy compensated for lost crops, and aU expenses, regardress of what the weather does and regardless of what the city does with the water. The city, similarry, wiU have made arrangements to provide unused water to