17 ‎(4)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 3/18/2008
• Description: OWCDP Section - Presentation on the 2007 Drought & Water Supply Assessment
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

STATE OF COLORADO
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
wuu . o~n cU. state. co.us
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
TO: Colorado Water Conservation Board Members
H:uris D. Sherman
DNR Executive Director
FROM: Veva McCaig, Section Chief

Office of Water Conservation & Drought Planning Jennifer L. GimUel
i
cwcB D
reator
DATE: March 19
2008 DanMcAnliffe
, CWCB Deputy Director
SUBJECT: Agenda Item #17, March 18-19, 2008 Board Meeting
Presentation on the 2007 Drought & Water Supply Assessment
Summary
In 2007 the CWCB conducted afollow-up survey to the 2004 DWSA. The 2007 DWSA focused
solely on municipal and urban water providers in Colorado. The decision to narrow the focus of
this Assessment was due to limits on budget and schedule. A detailed telephone survey vas
implemented to evaluate key components of water supply planning by water providers around
the State. The survey took approximately 30 minutes and participants were able to schedule time
with the phone survey staff at their convenience. Out of 324 targeted providers with contact
information, 200 responded, with is a 62% response rate. More importantly, the agencies
reportedly provided water to more than 4.2 million Coloradoans, more than 85% of the State's
population. The survey focused on four areas: drought status and preparedness, water
conservation planning and programs, climate change and long-term planning.
Assessment Conclusions and Recommendations
With regards to drought status, the majority of respondents indicated they were "fully recovered"
from the recent drought. Only 4% indicated their utility was still in severe drought. Only 27%
of Colorado municipal water providers have a drought response plan in place. It is
recommended the State enhance its activities in statewide drought awareness programs to track
drought conditions and disseminate information to water providers via Internet and email.
Posting example drought plans on a website, a drought preparation manual, drought planning
seminars, and other drought planning technical tools were mentioned as activities the State could
develop and coordinate.
48% of Colorado utilities either had a water conservation plan or are in progress of developing
one. The agencies who had a plan were typically larger providers. 92% of customers
represented by the agencies had a conservation plan on the books. A small percentage of water
providers had a budget for water conservation programs. It is recommended one way to
Water Supply Protection • Watershed Protection & Fluud blitigatiun • Stream & Lake Protection • Water Supply Planning & Finance
Water Conservation & Drought Planning • Intrastate ~F'ater Management & Development