S10_11-15-04

• Basin: Statewide
• Title: SWSI Phase 1 Report - Section 10 Basin-Specific Options
• Date: 11/15/2004
• Author: CWCB
• SWSI - Doc Type: Final Report

Section 10
Basin-Specific Options
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Statewide Water Supply Initiafive
Section 6 of this report presented the future water supply
options that water providers are pursuing to meet their
needs. SWSI has termed these options "Identified
Projects and Processes" and it is estimated, under a best
case scenario, that approximately 80 percent of
Colorado's future needs can be met by implementation of
these options. However, that leaves a remaining gap of
20 percent (118,200 AF). In addition, if some portion of
the Identified Projects and Processes are not
successfully implemented, it may be prudent to have
some conceptual solutions that could be pursued. The
types of options available were described in Section 8.
This section outlines some of the basin-specific options,
which when combined are termed Alternatives, that could
help address unmet future water supply needs.
10.1 Overview of Basin-Specific
Issues
In each of the eight river basins, various key activities
related to water supply planning and basin specific
issues were identified during the SWSI process and
Basin Roundtable Technical Meetings. This section
summarizes the basin specific activities and issues
related to water planning and water resource
management and environmental and recreational
options. In addition, existing conditional storage rights
and restricted reservoir sites in each basin were
identified and discussed during the process and are also
summarized.
10.1.1 Conditional Storage Rights
Consistent with SWSI's objective of identifying various
water management possibilities, the concepts of
enhancing water supplies throughout Colorado by
perfecting conditional storage rights and rehabilitating
existing reservoirs were explored. As was described in
Section 4.1.1, a conditional water right is not an absolute
water right, and therefore has not been put to beneficial
use. A conditional storage right must have two elements
in order to exist. First, there must be an intent, and
secondly, an act. An intent is a plan that includes
diligently proceeding with actions until eventually the full
beneficial use of the water is realized. An act could be as
simple as staking the location of the structure. Cities are
given more flexibility in this process, having only to show
expected requirements based on validated growth
projections. However, because some conditional storage
rights holders have priority dates senior to existing
absolute junior rights, if they fully exercise their rights,
junior water rights holders would be affected. Conditional
storage rights can therefore play an important role in the
development of the state's water resources if they were
to be fully implemented. Conditional storage rights are
discussed in more detail under each basin.
10.1.2 Restricted Reservoirs and
Potential New Storage Sites
Periodically, the SEO compiles a list of dams that are on
restrictions throughout the state. This list, current as of
August 2004 in this report, describes the various
reservoirs in the state that are in severe disrepair, have
inadequate spillways, spillway erosion, or other structural
defects. These facilities have restricted storage levels
less than the normal operating capacity. If these
reservoirs were to be rehabilitated and storage
restrictions removed, additional water could be stored
and available to meet increased demands.
The following sections will describe in further detail the
restricted reservoirs for each basin.
In addition to perfecting conditional storage rights and
rehabilitating restricted reservoir sites, hundreds of
potential reservoir sites that exist throughout the state
could also aid in water supply planning efforts. After
passage of a 1986 House Bill, the CWCB began
compiling an inventory of these potential damsites, as
well as maintaining and updating it periodically. A
minimum potential storage volume of 20,000 AF or more
was selected when developing the inventory. A review of
the State Engineer's water rights tabulation, publicly
available literature, and input from consulting engineers,
Division Engineers, and various Water Conservancy
Districts were used to compose the list. Included in the
inventory is a review of the State Engineer's Reservoir
Water Rights Tabulations, which identified sites with
conditional decrees equal to or greater than 5,000 AF.
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