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A 2005 state law created basin roundtables, a group of varied water users in each river basin in the state. <br />Their job is to study the water usage and availability of water in their basin. They are also commissioned <br />to develop proposals to meet future needs in their basin. <br />Wednesday evening, water users and the public gathered for a Colorado River Basin roundtable <br />discussion to talk about the future for western Colorado's water. <br />A state-sponsored water availability study will be completed for the Colorado River Basin by 2010, with <br />initial results coming next year, said Jim Pokrandt, communications manager for the Colorado River <br />District. <br />The state needs to create a vision where Front Range residents water their bluegrass while Western Slope <br />residents don't even flinch, said John Redifer, discussion moderator. "If you really want to prepare for <br />the future, for me, it comes down to storage," said Steve Ryken, a member of the roundtable. <br />Jim Carter, vice chairman of the roundtable, said if the water usage becomes market-driven, "most of the <br />water would be moved over to the East Slope." Eliminating the state law that now dictates how Colorado <br />allocates its water would create "utter chaos," said Dick Proctor, manager of the Grand Valley Water <br />Users Association. "It would go to the highest bidder," and flow to more populated areas. <br />Eventually, all members the state's roundtables will discuss the future needs of the entire state, said <br />Pokrandt. <br />Everyone's "all shaking hands and making nice, but we've all got a sharpened stiletto behind our backs," <br />getting ready to meet, he said. "They know we've got the water." <br />