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Arkansas Basin Roundtable Technical Meeting #1 <br />Meeting Summary <br />Alternatives - Combinations of options that are designed to accomplish the objectives. For <br />example, an infrastructure water supply alternative may include large storage, surface water, <br />and groundwater themes, but be light on conservation and reuse themes. <br />Water supply alternatives may be water supply projects or may be management strategies. <br />These water supply alternatives can also be described as the "solutions° to a water supply issue <br />and they represent the "how are we going to solve this problem" aspect of the decisionmaking <br />process. During this process, different supply and demand management projects and strategies <br />are identified, studied, and then combined into complete sets of alternatives. Traditional water <br />planning has tended to focus on this aspect alone. However, water resources decisions are <br />becoming more complex, incorporating such issues as managing costs, ensuring water quality, <br />meeting environmental needs, providing for recreation, balancing urban and agricultural <br />interests, and equity. <br />Given the wide difference of opinions and perspectives that people have regarding Colorado's <br />water resources, it is important to focus equally on the "why are we doing this" aspect of the <br />decisionmaking process. During this part of the process, basic objectives are defined. The <br />development of objectives helps provide insight into people's views of water and water <br />resource management. For each objective, associated performance measures are developed that <br />represent indices that indicate whether the objective is being achieved. By understanding water <br />management objectives and clearly articulating them to the public, one can better understand <br />how different water supply alternatives perform and address the views and values of <br />individuals, and possible solutions (i.e., alternatives) can be evaluated in a structured manner. <br />Where the two aspects of the decisionmaking process (e.g., the "why" and the "how") come <br />together, alternatives are comprehensively evaluated and a preferred alternative is identified. <br />By defining, up front, the basic objectives for SWSI, it is expected that trade-offs among <br />alternatives can be more easily identified/understood and incorporated into an implementation <br />strategy for that alternative. These trade-offs can be the basis for mutual understanding of the <br />public's concerns and needs. A draft list of objectives was developed based on input from the <br />first round of SWSI Public Meetings and experience gathered from other successful water <br />planning efforts. The draft objectives are not listed in any particular order, but individual <br />roundtable members will have an opportunity to indicate their relative preferences on the final <br />list of objectives later in the SWSI process. The draft objectives presented included: <br />^ Reliably meet demands <br />^ Maximize existing supply <br />^ Enhance use of existing system assets <br />^ Maximize implementability <br />^ Support recreational needs <br />^ Provide for environmental protection <br />^ Minimize costs <br />^ Protect cultural values <br />^ Provide for healthy Colorado economy <br />~~ <br />Copy ofArkansas BRT Mtg #1 Summary_fnal.doc 11/14/2003 <br />