North_Platte_SWSI_Update_7-19-04

• Year: 2004
• Title: Update on Statewide Water Supply Initiative - North Platte Basin
• CWCB Section: Water Supply Planning
• Author: CWCB
• Description: North Platte Basin Fact Sheet
• Publications - Doc Type: Basin Fact Sheets

CDIVI

Update on Statewide Water Supply Initiative
- North Platte Basin

projects include: Colorado Spring's Southern Delivery System, Denver's north system
improvements, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District's Windy Gap Firming
Project and Northern Integrated Supply Plan (NISP), greater utilization of Ruedi and
Wolford mountain reservoirs in the Colorado River drainage, and enlargement of
Elkhead Reservoir in the Yampa/White/Green Basin. A more complete list of how
our future needs will be met is still under development. Once it is developed, we will
have a full understanding of how much remaining unmet need there will be and
begin to focus on how to close the remaining gap between supply and demand in the
year 2030.

SWSI has identified that most water providing entities are actively planning for future
demand and have identified key projects to meet this demand. It is essential that these
plans and projects move forward. If they do not move forward, alternative solutions
will need to be implemented. SWSI has also found that the greatest needs for state
assistance in meeting future water needs are with rural and small water providers
and agricultural users.

Statewide Agricultural Demands

The Colorado Decision Support System (CDSS) modeling tool was used to estimate
existing agricultural water demands in the Colorado, Gunnison, Rio Grande, San
Juan/Dolores/San Miguel, and the Yampa/White/Green Basins. Agricultural use in
the Arkansas, North Platte, and South Platte Basins were estimated using a variety of
available sources. Table 3 presents an estimate of current irrigated acres and average
total diversions (in AF) over a period of record for each basin. It is important to note
that the number of irrigated acres may vary on an annual basis for each basin over the
period of record.

Table 3 Preliminary Statewide Agricultural Demands

I Average Total I
Current Estimated I Diversions* Period of Record for
Basin Irrigated Acres (AF) Average Diversions
Arkansas 538,100 1,769,900 1999 - 2001
Colorado 237,700 1,986,900 1975 -1990
San Juan/Dolores/San Miguel 254,900 810,100 1975 -1990
Gunnison 263,500 1,726,000 1950 - 2000
North Platte 95,700 396,900 1993 - 2002
Rio Grande 632,700 1,514,500 1950 -1997
South Platte 1,003,500 2,545,500 1993 - 2002
Yam pa/Wh ite/G reen 118,500 629,900 1975 -1990
TOTAL 3,144,600 11,379,700 -

* Arkansas, South Platte and Rio Grande Basins include estimates of alluvial groundwater pumping

Agriculture represents approximately 91 percent of water used in Colorado for
agricultural, municipal and industrial (M&I), and self-supplied industrial (SSI)
purposes (Figure 2). SWSI projections indicate that it will make up 86 percent of the
water use in 2030 (Figure 2). The greatest changes in agricultural water use are
expected to occur in the Front Range as M&I growth moves into agricultural lands
and/ or as water is transferred from agriculture to support growth. Understanding the

3

SWSI Update - North Platte Basin