Laserfiche WebLink
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br />INTRODUCTION <br />State agencies, water providers and water users are constantly evaluating management of water <br />resources in response to increases in population and demand, droughts, endangered species <br />issues and reductions in Federal water program funding. A comprehensive decision support <br />system (DSS) is being developed for each of the major river basins in Colorado. These will <br />provide State of Colorado agencies, water users and managers a better means for organizing, <br />accessing and evaluating a wide range of information and alternative strategies for managing <br />their water resources. This, in turn, will help DSS users make informed decisions regarding <br />major water issues and policy positions. <br />This report presents the results of an investigation to determine the feasibility of developing a <br />decision support system for the South Platte and North Platte River basins in Colorado. This <br />feasibility study was done for both the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) and the <br />Division of Water Resources (DWR). <br />The South Platte Decision Support System (SPDSS) will encompass the entire South Platte and <br />North Platte River basins. The South Platte River basin study area includes all of Water Division <br />1 except Water Districts 49 and 65 that discharge to the Republican River drainage and Water <br />Districts 48 and 76 that discharge to the North Platte River. The North Platte River basin study <br />area includes Water District 47 in Water Division 6 and Water Districts 48 and 76 in Water <br />Division 1. The level of application for the SPDSS will vary between geographic regions from <br />one alternative to the next, due to differences in data and analysis tool needs. <br />The SPDSS will consist of data that characterize the hydrologic and hydrogeologic features of <br />these basins and tools that provide enhanced water administration and water resource planning <br />capabilities. The purpose of the SPDSS is to assist water users and State officials in developing, <br />managing and preserving the water resources of the North Platte and South Platte River basins <br />for the people of Colorado. <br />The SPDSS will be the third decision support system developed by the State of Colorado. A <br />decision support system for the Colorado River basin (CROSS) has been developed and is <br />currently being used in that basin for water management and development purposes by both state <br />agencies as well as local and federal entities. For example, the surface water data sets and <br />associated surface water model (StateMod) are being used by the CWCB to determine sources of <br />water supply for meeting Colorado's requirements for the Endangered Species Recovery <br />Program in the Colorado River basin and DWR is using the administration tool to help in the <br />administration of the Colorado River. A decision support system for the Rio Grande basin <br />(RGDSS) is nearing completion. Applications of that system are expected to include the <br />development of rules and regulations for new well development in the San Luis Valley as well as <br />analysis of the Closed Basin Project and Interstate Compact operations. <br />p:Adata\gen\spdss\final report\executive summary.doc E' -1 <br />October 31, 2001 <br />