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will continue to be water-short, unless we can do something about it. <br />± <br />Building small storage capacity is a way to address the shortage on the <br />tributaries. How those projects are funded is problematic. <br />The SWSI process needs to be diverse: <br />± <br />The basin combines both the Yampa and the White Rivers, which includes a huge <br />geographic area with divergent uses and demands. SWSI needs to make sure <br />that during the meeting processes it covers the diversity of issues within the <br />specific basins. We live a long way away from each other, and have various <br />needs. SWSI should aim for more meetings in each basin. <br />± <br />A concern was identified by the Northwest Colorado Loan Fund, an economic <br />development organization representing nine western counties that out-of-basin <br />interests often have a significant degree of control over what happens to the <br />water supply in other basins. For example, the reservoirs in Summit County are <br />controlled by an out-of-county entity. Summit County, which relies on those <br />reservoirs for much of its economy, has limited control over what happens with <br />those reservoirs. The concern is that out-of-basin interests that own and control <br />reservoirs in other basins need to understand how their decisions can impact the <br />quality of life in the basin where the reservoir is located. <br />Recreational water use needs to be considered in solutions: <br />± <br />The Yampa/White basin has seen a significant change in how water is used. <br />Where water was once primarily used for municipal and agricultural use, there is <br />now an increased demand from recreation. Recreation used to be a very small <br />part of the basin?s water demand and use. With increased population and <br />tourism, the usage and demand on the water is more diverse. An entire industry <br />has developed that is using more water than it has ever used in the past. This is <br />particularly true in and around Steamboat Springs, but once you get out of that <br />corridor the presence of this activity declines because of the predominance of <br />private land ownership. <br />± <br />In Moffat County, there is a significant use of high flows for rafting and kayaking. <br />As soon as the river drops, the recreation use lessens. There is a very active <br />area along the river, west of Craig, where the river is heavily used for a two-day <br />float trip. <br />± <br />A conflict between public and private use of the river has arisen because so many <br />people want to use the river. To alleviate some of this conflict, State Parks has <br />leased trespass rights. We have tried this in several places along the valley and <br />it has been successful in making landowners comfortable with river uses through <br />their land. <br />± <br />The basin needs to follow the trends in skiing. The basin?s skiing industry that is <br />centered in Steamboat Springs can directly impact the supply of water in the <br />basin. If skiing goes flat, we will have more water available. While the number of <br />skiers has flattened, no one expects it to decrease. <br />Explore reuse, conservation, and other non-structural measures to improve return flows: <br />± <br />From an agricultural perspective, conservation has to be done carefully. Being <br />wasteful with water early in the year could be a good thing. The alluvial recharge <br />that irrigated agriculture provides to down-basin river flows is something that <br />many people rely on. The Town of Yampa relies heavily on alluvial recharges. <br />When we take our irrigation water in an extreme year and give it to a rancher to <br />put on the meadow, it will hit our infiltration area three days later. Also, be careful <br />