PUB00155 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

oj Does Colorado Reallv Have Surplus Colorado River Water Available? As both the interstate and intrastate discussions proceed, we need to recognize and discuss the major uncertainties and challenges facing the Colorado River. Climate change or "global warming" raises serious new uncertainty factors on a system that seeks to minimize uncertainty. Almost all of the science that I have read suggests that the Colorado River is facing a future with less stream flow. A recent National Academies of Sciences report makes the same conclusion. 16 Additionally, there have been a number of paleohydrology studies that suggest the 1900s may have been unusually wet. Therefore, even without the climate change factor, there may be cause for concern. The policy implications of less water in the Colorado River are very disturbing, not only for the State of Colorado and its sister Basin States but for the nation as a whole. The policy implications ofless water go far beyond the use of water for consumptive uses. It will have serious implications for the interagency efforts to protect and recover any endangered species throughout the Colorado River Basin. Indeed, the reduced flows may trigger the listing of additional species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Reduced flows may have serious impacts on both stream based and reservoir based recreation throughout the Basin. A warmer Colorado River Basin may change the vegetation in the Colorado River watershed in ways we cannot predict. There may well be new water quality problems from the reduced flows and changes in the shape and timing of the hydro graph. If we assume that today' s Colorado River is being fully utilized by the seven Basin States and Mexico, then a future with less water will mean that all future new uses will come through the transfer or restriction of existing uses, through efficiency improvements or through augmentation from sources outside the Colorado River Basin or precipitation enchancement. Less water in the river will mean that shortages in the Lower Basin will be the rule not the exception. It means that within Colorado, we are going to have to carefully consider any decisions concerning future development. Is the basic assumption underlying SWSI that Colorado has remaining Colorado River water to develop still valid? Author's Note and Motivation for the Paper As previously mentioned, I believe the people of Colorado are facing very difficult decisions concerning our water future. It is my view that if HB-Il 77 is to succeed, the professional water community needs to encourage a broad and transparent statewide dialogue among the community itself, the numerous elected and appointed officials on the boards, commissions, city and town councils, the legislature and the public. 16NationaI Research Council of the National Academies. Colorado River Basin Water Management, Evaluating and Adjusting to Hydroclimatic Varability, February 2007. Available through www.nap,edu. Page -7-