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Non-consumptive needs should be met by water needed to meet compact <br />requirements. Otherwise, the water will be taken from ag and results in a cycle of less <br />stream flow later. <br />Conservation has become an over used buzzword. Much of what has been promoted <br />as conservation does not decrease actual consumptive use but simply results in less <br />return flow or aquifer recharge. Conservation alone will not solve our long term needs. <br />Climate will continue to change as it has throughout the earth's history. I don't know if <br />that means we will be warmer or cooler, less or more dry. Policy needs to <br />acknowledge potential changes, but not be based on speculation. <br />I also cannot predict the needs from energy development. We are currently in the third <br />energy boom in my lifetime. The last two were followed by big busts, and I tend to <br />expect another, especially if we continue down a path toward more regulation and <br />taxes on the industry. Commercial oil shale development has been predicted for a <br />century, and I don't know if it will ever happen. I do think (or hope) that in 50 years we <br />will be less dependent on fossil fuels. Much activity currently centers around biofuels, <br />yet the types of crops needed for their production are high water consumers. <br />29 <br />I:\INTERBASIN COMPACT COMMITTEEWISIONS FOR COLORADO WATER SUPPLY FUTURE\RESPONSES TO VISIONING AND MARCH MEETING\IBCC REPRESENTATIVE COMMENTS.DOC