Exec Summary Report_11-15-04 - Laserfiche WebLink

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STATE OF COLORADO Department of Natural Resources Colorado Water Conservation Board 1313 Sherman Street, Room 721 Denver, Colorado 80203 Statewic~e Wate~r Supply Ir~itiative FOREWORD November 15, 2004 Fellow Coloradans: Bill Owens Governor Russell George Executive Director Department of Natural Resources Rod Kuharich Director cwcs Dan McAuliffe Depury Director cwcs Just a few years ago Colorado celebrated our oldest water right, which at over 150 years old predates Colorado becoming an independent state. Much has changed over the last 150 years, and yet the celebration of this water right is a reminder of our roots and the importance water has played in shaping our state. Colorado entered the new millennium on the heels of the largest population growth in our state's history. This growth coincided with a relatively wet cycle in which we enjoyed above normal snowfall and precipitation. But all this changed at the end of the 1990s and the first years of the new century with the onset of several very dry years. In some areas of the state, 2002 was the driest year in recorded history. The last few years are a stark reminder of the importance water plays in our lives; from ranchers on the western slope to those living in Colorado's cities and towns, from farmers on the eastern plains to recreationalists who enjoy our lakes, rivers, and streams. We all depend on water for our survival. As we look to the future, the wise and thoughtful management of this resource has never been more important. But the need to prepare for our water future goes beyond drought. By the year 2030, another 2.8 million people are going to call Colorado home - a 65 percent increase. Most of these new Coloradans will live along the Front Range urban corridor; the communities that will experience the greatest percentage increases will be on the Western Slope and central mountains. In light of these changes and challenges, the 2003 Colorado General Assembly authorized the Colorado Water Conservation Board to implement the Statewide Water Supply Initiative (the "Initiative"), an 18-month basin by basin investigation of our existing and future water needs. This was an unprecedented effort. Never before in the history of the state have we developed such a comprehensive picture of our water future. Never before have we assembled all water users - farmers, ranchers, municipalities, industrial users, recreationalists, environmentalists - to look at our future. Never before have we gone to each of Colorado's eight major river basins to explore how much water they use today, how much water they need in the future, and how local water providers are planning to meet that need. Conducting this study was no easy task. Water is controversial and contentious, and the tensions and conflicts at times have spanned generations. Water is an issue that goes to the core of who we are and what we can be as a state. As a result, this study needed to proceed thoughtfully and strategically, always in respect ofthe role and jurisdiction of local water providers.