Section1_Introduction - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Section 1 Introduction It is this gap that must be filled with "new" water. If water suppliers bad 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: 1. Foster cooperation among water suppliers and citizens in every water basin. Because SWSI was an initiative, the work must be carried forward. The CWCB has continued the discussions that began at the Basin Roundtable (BRT) meetings about in-basin projects and needs through the Interbasin Compact Process BRTs. 2. Examine and implement options to fill the gap between ongoing water planning and fLrture water needs. SWSI did not produce a list of specific projects to fill the 20 percent M~eI gap, or provide for environmental and recreational needs. SWSI did identify the options, both at the conceptual and project specific level, that would most likely be pursued to meet the gap between supply and demand. The examination and implementation of these options should be placed in the context of goal number one. 3. Examine and implement options to fill the gap associated with local agricultural shortages and environmental and recreational enhancements. As the state moves forward in addressing statewide needs, it should look to foster multipurpose projects that could also satisfy M~eI, environmental, and recreational needs. These multipurpose projects will enhance project feasibility. In addition, opportunities for nonpermanent agricultural transfers warrant further consideration. 1.5 SWSI Key Findings SWSI put forth a "picture" ofwhere Colorado may be by the year 2030 and identified a number of important issues and questions regarding how that "picture" of Colorado fits with the values, objectives, and future goals identified for Colorado. SWSI articulated 10 major findings, which are summarized below. 1. Significant increases in Colorado's population together with agricultural water needs and an increased focus on recreation and environmental issues will intensify competition for water. By 2030, 2.8 million more people are expected to call Colorado home. Water demands will increase by 53 percent during this time. 2. Projects and water management processes that local M~eI providers are implementing or planning to implement have the ability to meet about 80 percent of Colorado's M~eI water needs through 2030. To the extent that these identified M~eI projects are not successfully implemented, Colorado will see a significantly greater reduction in irrigated agricultural lands as M~eI water providers seek additional permanent transfers of agricultural water rights. 4. Supplies are not necessarily where demands are; localized shortages exist, especially in headwater areas, and compact entitlements in some basins are not fully utilized. 5. Increased reliance onnon-renewable, non- tributarygroundwater for permanent water supply warrants serious reliability and sustainability concerns in some areas, particularly along the Front Range. 6. In-basin solutions can help resolve the remaining 20 percent gap between M~eI water supply and demand, but there will be tradeoffs and impacts on other users especially agriculture and the environment. FINAL DRAFT 1-5