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Executive Summary
<br />In-basin solutions can help resolve the
<br />remaining 20 percent gap between M&I supply
<br />and demand, but there will be tradeoffs and
<br />impacts on other uses - especially agriculture
<br />and the environment.
<br />Water conservation (beyond Level 1) will be
<br />relied upon as a major tool for meeting future
<br />M&I demands, but conseroation alone cannot
<br />meet all of Colorado's future M&I needs.
<br />Significantwater conservation has already
<br />occurred in many areas.
<br />Environmental and recreational uses of water
<br />are expected to increase with population growth.
<br />These uses help support Colorado's tourism
<br />industry, provide recreational and environmental
<br />benefits for our citizens, and are an important
<br />industry in many parts of the state. Without a
<br />mechanism to fund environmental and
<br />recreational enhancement beyond the project
<br />mitigation measures required by law, conflicts
<br />among M&I, agricultural, recreational,
<br />and environmental users could
<br />intensify.
<br />The ability of smaller, rural water
<br />providers and agricultural water users
<br />to adequately address their existing
<br />and future water needs is significantly
<br />affected by their financial capabilities.
<br />10. While SWSI evaluated water needs and
<br />~alutions through 2030, very few M&I
<br />water providers have identified
<br />supplies beyond 2030. Beyond 2030,
<br />growing demands may require more
<br />aggressive solutions.
<br />Each of these major findings is discussed
<br />below.
<br />1. Significant Increases in Colorado's
<br />Population will Intensify Competition for
<br />Water
<br />Colorado's M&1 Outioak
<br />M&I water demands are defined as water
<br />needed for residential, commercial,
<br />institutional, and industrial uses. These
<br />demands occur in the state's urban, suburban,
<br />mountain, and rural areas. Increases in M&I
<br />~~
<br />water demands are primarily driven by population growth
<br />(see Figure ES-2).
<br />Colorado has a healthy and growing economy. The
<br />state's gross product (a measure of all economic activity)
<br />increased from $74.7 billion in 1990 to $173.7 billion in
<br />2001. Moreover, between 1990 and 2001, Colorado
<br />gained almost a million new people. The state
<br />demographer projects that Colorado will continue its
<br />significant growth, adding another 2.8 million residents
<br />by 2030. Of that amount, slightly more than 1.5 million, or
<br />54 percent, is due to net migration into the state. The
<br />remainder is a function of birth rates that are
<br />substantially higher than the number of deaths projected
<br />for each year.
<br />This population growth is not limited to the Front Range.
<br />The state demographer estimates that West Slope
<br />basins will add about 420,000 new residents by 2030,
<br />growing at rates higher than those of the Front Range
<br />basins.
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<br />3 5,000,000
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<br />~ 4,000,000
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<br />a~'i 3,000,000
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<br />2,000,000
<br />1,000,000
<br />Percent Percent
<br />Increase Change Annual
<br />in 2000 to Growth
<br />Basin 2000 2030 Population 2030 Rate
<br />Arkansas 835,100 1,293,000 457,900 55 1.5
<br />Colorado 248,000 492,600 244,600 99 2.3
<br />Dolores/San 90,900 171,600 80,700 89 2.1
<br />Juan/San Miguel
<br />Gunnison 88,600 161,500 72,900 82 2.0
<br />North Platte 1,600 2,000 400 25 0.7
<br />Rio Grande 46,400 62,700 16,300 35 1.0
<br />South Platte 2,985,600 4,911,600 1,926,000 65 1.7
<br />YampaNVhite/Green 39,300 61,400 22,100 56 1.5
<br />Total 4,335,500 7,156,400 2,820,900 65 1.7
<br />Source: Colorado Department of Local Affairs Demography Section
<br />Figure ES-2
<br />Population Projections by Basin
<br />~J~~a
<br />Statew~itle Water Supply Inii'iative
<br />ES-H S:\REPORT\WORD PROCESSING\REPORT\EXEC SUMMARY 11-10-04.DOC
<br />2000 2010 2020 2030
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