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<br />Rio Grande Basin
<br />Growth
<br />
<br />The Rio Grande Basin is
<br />comprised of all or part of six
<br />counties. Changes in
<br />population from 2000 to
<br />2030, including percent
<br />annual growth rate on a
<br />county level, are shown in the
<br />table here. During that time,
<br />the population in the basin is
<br />expected to grow by
<br />62,700 people, or 35 percent.
<br />
<br />
<br />Rio Grande Basin Population Projections
<br />
<br />Rio Grande River Basin
<br />
<br /> Increase in Percent Percent
<br /> Population Change Annual
<br /> 2000 2030 2000 to 2000 to Growth
<br />Subbasin Designation Population Population 2030 2030 Rate
<br />Alamosa 15,100 22,900 7,800 52 1.4
<br />Conejos 8,400 10,000 1,600 19 0.6
<br />Costilla 3,700 4,600 900 24 0.7
<br />Mineral 800 1,100 300 38 1.1
<br />Rio Grande 12,400 15,500 3,100 25 0.7
<br />Saguache 6,000 8,600 2,600 43 1.2
<br />TOTAL 46,400 62,700 16,300 35 1.0
<br />
<br />Rio Grande Basin
<br />Water Demands
<br />
<br />Rio Grande Basin Demand Projections
<br />
<br /> Identified
<br /> Projected Increase in Gross
<br /> 2000 Gross 2030 Gross Conservation Gross Demand
<br /> Demand Demand Savings Demand Shortfall
<br />Subbasin Designation (AF) (AF) (AF) (AF) (AF)
<br />Alamosa 4,600 6,500 400 1,900 -
<br />Conejos 4,000 4,500 300 500 -
<br />Costilla 600 700 - 100 100
<br />Mineral 300 400 - 100 -
<br />Rio Grande 5,700 6,600 500 900 -
<br />Saguache 2,200 3,000 200 800 -
<br />TOTAL 17,400 21,700 1,400 4,300 100
<br />
<br />The Rio Grande Basin is
<br />projected to increase
<br />municipal & industrial (M&I)
<br />and self-supplied industrial
<br />(SSI) water demand
<br />4,300 acre-feet (AF) by 2030.
<br />M&I is defined as all of the
<br />water use of a typical
<br />municipal system, including
<br />residential, commercial,
<br />industrial, irrigation, and
<br />firefighting. Large industrial
<br />water users that have their
<br />own water supplies or lease
<br />raw water from others are described as SSI water
<br />users. M&I and SSI water demand forecasts for the
<br />Rio Grande Basin are shown in the table above.
<br />
<br />The 2000 and 2030 gross demands are presented in
<br />the table along with the projected conservation
<br />savings. Conservation practices include ordinances
<br />and standards that improve the overall efficiency of
<br />water use, such as installation of low water-use
<br />plumbing fixtures. As the table indicates, the Rio
<br />Grande Basin will need an additional 4,300 AF to
<br />meet the increased demands of M&I water use. The
<br />majority of the demand is expected to be met
<br />through existing supplies and water rights and
<br />through the implementation of various projects and
<br />processes.
<br />
<br />Surface Water Diversions in Acre-feet by Use
<br />
<br />Wet and Dry Periods
<br />
<br />Every year, there is at least one lOa-year flood
<br />somewhere in the state. Colorado's total flood losses
<br />to date have been documented to be $4.9 billion.
<br />The Rio Grande Basin's most recent flood event was
<br />June 9, 1985. The estimated total historic flood
<br />damages for this basin are $12. I million to date.
<br />
<br />
<br />. Irrigation
<br />. Storage
<br />o Municipal
<br />o Commercial
<br />. Domestic
<br />cStock
<br />. Industrial
<br />o Recreation
<br />. Fishery
<br />[;]ft.ugmentation
<br />o Recharge
<br />
<br />-
<br />
<br />Source: Colorado Division of Water Resources, Cumulative Yearly Statistics
<br />of the Colorado Division of Water Resources, 1999-2004
<br />
<br />-
<br />
<br />Dry Avg Wet
<br />
<br />Oct 1911 June 1927
<br />BaSin(OOdS BaSin(OOdS
<br />
<br />
<br />1=_=_=1-
<br />
<br />June 1941
<br />Basin floods
<br />
<br />Sept 1970
<br />Basin floods
<br />
<br /> June 1985
<br /> Basin floods
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<br />Source: Colorado Water Conservation Board; and McKee, Doesken, and Kleist, Historical Dry and Wet Periods in Colorado,
<br />Figures, Colorado Climate Center, Colorado State University, 1999
<br />
<br />
<br />Great Sand Dunes National Park (photo courtesy of Adam Bingham)
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