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Section 11 Implementation Provide technical and financial assistance to put the necessary plans, projects, and programs in place to meet those needs. The Drought Assessment that was conducted by the CWCB highlights that most water suppliers want technical and financial assistance from the state. SWSI provided for some categorization among water users so that we can pinpoint the type of help and assistance needed. - - - - . . _ _ ,_ _ - _ ~. `'~,~~,~''- ~`:;~T~"' ~ ~ ~~~; ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~.;, ~ ~, ~ ~ ~ J t ' 1 ~~ ~( ~i ~' ,~ 1Y ~ tl~ r~ ~~ ~'`~ ~~~ ' , ~ ~ ~,~ ~ e ~) ~'~ ~ :_ ~ y, ~ ~„ ~ ~ ,~„~~ ~"' ti~~~• '.' ~~ i ~~~ ~~S ~'~i envir~nm~nt, lifestyl~, culture ~nd ecnn~rr~y. SWSI makes it clear that future plans include drying up farmland to provide water for cities, towns, communities, and industries. While there will be the inevitable reductions of irrigated acres as development occurs on these lands, some of the additional projected losses of irrigated lands can be reduced if viable alternatives are available to M&I providers. Options exist that could reduce the need to dry up additional irrigated agricultural lands, but cooperation is essential and the state may be able to help level the field so that "win-win" options can be chosen. This must be done in a way that enhances our environment and protects recreational resources. There are numerous issues that should be explored in this dialogue: ^ Competition among water providers for the same sources of water. ^ The trade-offs between in-basin agricultural transfers and new water supply development. ^ How to create win-win scenarios where the basin or area of origin and the area of beneficial use both ~~ derive sufficient benefits from a proposed water development project. ^ How to collaborate on the implementation of the Identified Projects and Processes, and further development of the options for meeting future needs. ^ Identify options to allow for more use of non- permanent transfers of water from agriculture. 11.5.2 The 20 Percent M&I Gap, Agricultural Shortages, and Environmental and Recreational Enhancements Another major achievement of SWSI was the identification of an inevitable gap in water supply that exists between current M&I water supply planning and the projected need for water. In addition, localized agricultural shortages have been identified in all basins and significant environmental and recreational needs were identified. Articulating the CWCB's role in helping to narrow and eventually eliminate this gap is much trickier - both institutionally and politically. It is this gap that must be filled with "new" water so to speak. If water suppliers had the water to meet the demand represented by this gap, there would be no gap. The mission for the state in filling this gap should be: Foster cooperation among water suppliers and citizens in every water basin to examine and implement options to fill the gap between ongoing water planning and future water needs. The goals of this mission are to: Foster cooperation among ~vat~r ~uppli~rs ~nd citizens in every water basin. And, because SWSI is an initiative, work must obviously continue. The CWCB should continue the discussions that began at the Basin Roundtable meetings about in-basin projects and needs. The state should also identify and help foster the discussion about when these in- basin plans and projects are likely to impact out-of- basin interests, and what if anything, can be done to mitigate, or better yet improve water resource management and the economic, social, and environmental conditions in both basins - keeping in mind that if water development proceeds as planned, these discussions focus on only 20 percent of our ~~ Statew~itle Water Supply Inii'iative 11-8 S:\REPORT\WORD PROCESSING\REPORT\S11 11-10-04.DOC 4. F~ster cooperation to avoid being forced to make trade-offs thatwould otherwise harm Colorado's