Laserfiche WebLink
continuation of the Basin Roundtable process was supported projects and processes and provide support where needed. <br />in many of the basins, considering the depth, breadth, and Helping identify and resolve implementation issues will be <br />complexity of the issues discussed in the Basin Roundtable extremely important. Implementation issues will dif fer with <br />technical meetings conducted in each basin through this first each project but improvements to the permitting process, <br />phase of analysis. It will take time for this information to “take creating multiple project benefits, and developing greater <br />root” and develop to the point of common understanding opportunity for financial support will be key factors to reducing <br />before it can truly change the dialogue and debate in the state. implementation hurdles. <br />Colorado will be restricted in our ability to move forward in <br />meeting our water needs until this happens. Key topics for 3. Develop a Program to Evaluate, Quantify , and Prioritize <br />Environmental and Recreational W ater Enhancement <br />continuing in-basin and transbasin dialogue could include: <br />Goals <br />Issues associated with possible competition for the same <br />+ <br />Progress was made in this first phase of SWSI toward <br />sources of water <br />identifying the level of interest in enhancements of flows for <br />Broadening the dialogue to include representatives of future <br />environmental and recreational uses beyond the CWCB's <br />+ <br />growth areas not currently represented, and local <br />existing instream flow program, which is intended to protect the <br />governments and stakeholders in basins that may be <br />natural environment to a reasonable degree. CWCB should <br />impacted by another basin’ s source of supply <br />identify stream segments or ecological areas for flow <br />prioritization or enhancement. This program could build from <br />T rade-of fs of in-basin agricultural transfers vs. new water <br />+ <br />the existing authorities of the CWCB In-Stream Flow program <br />supply development (either in-basin or transbasin); as <br />and the "conserve, protect, and restore" approach brought <br />discussed earlier , the next phases of SWSI will evaluate <br />forth through many of the SWSI Basin Roundtable discussions. <br />supply and demand at the statewide level <br />Ensuring that future water transfer projects be planned in a <br />4. W ork T owards Consensus Recommendations on Funding <br />+ <br />way that both the area of origin and the area of beneficial <br />Mechanisms for Environmental and Recreational <br />use derive mutual benefits from the proposed project <br />Enhancements <br />SWSI Basin Roundtable discussions indicated a strong interest <br />Identifying and implementing changes needed to improve <br />+ <br />in further environmental and recreational enhancements. While <br />and streamline permitting processes <br />many roundtable participants concurred that there may be an <br />Collaborative implementation of the Identified Projects and <br />+ overall willingness of environmental and recreational <br />Processes and further development of the Options for <br />beneficiaries to pay for such enhancements, the lack of an <br />Future Alternatives <br />existing mechanism for such payment was highlighted. Further <br />dialogue among and between Basin Roundtables should <br />include discussion of alternative payment mechanisms, with <br />Level 1 Conservation Savings <br />the goal of developing a consensus recommendation to be <br />promoted by the CWCB and/or the State Legislature. <br />Net increase in demand <br />= 630,000 AF <br />5. Create a Common Understanding of Future W ater Supplies <br />T o more accurately assess the alternatives available to the <br />state in meeting our future water needs, the analysis of supply <br />availability for each basin will determine developable flows, <br />taking into account factors such as: <br />Existing water rights <br />+ <br />Hydrologic conditions <br />+ <br />Compact interpretations <br />M&I = municipal and industrial <br />+ <br />SSI = self supplied industrial <br />Federal laws <br />Projected M&I W ater Demand <br />+ <br />Operations of federal facilities <br />2. T rack and Support the Identified Projects and Processes <br />+ <br />Identified Projects and Processes play a critical role in meeting <br />6. Develop Implementation Plans T owards Meeting Future <br />Colorado's future M&I needs. Consequently , there is a need to <br />Needs <br />track and support their implementation. The state should work <br />While many of the Identified Projects and Processes are <br />with individual providers and project sponsors to identify key <br />already progressing toward implementation, their successful <br />elements of their future water supply portfolio, then develop a <br />implementation, and the success of any current or future <br />monitoring mechanism to track the progress of those key <br />