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• Board Meeting Date: 9/17/2008
• Description: Director's Report - IBCC Director - IBCC Visioning Process
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Compact Development
Policy Issues f orDiscussion -The Arkansas, South Platte, and Rio Grande Basins regularly
curtail in-basin diversions to meet required compact deliveries. There may be water lef t f or
development on the Colorado River system, but there are risks in additional development of
this water. There is general agreement that these risks exist, but there is need to examine
associated risks.
Technical Approach
^ Issues and benefits of no additional development of Colorado River water.
^ Evaluate issues and benef its of the development of 100,000 acre-f eet and 250,000 acre-f eet f or
in-basin consumptive use and use on the Front Range.
^ Evaluate the use of infrastructure and/ or interruptible agricultural options to deal with a
potential compact call.
^ Identify the opportunities and challenges for managing compact obligations in a way that
benefits river corridors.
Transbasin Diversions
Policy Issues f or Discussion - In general, 80 percent of Colorado's population on the East Slope
of the Continental Divide and 80 percent of the water is on the West Slope. This has historically
resulted in major water providers developing transbasin diversion projects to meet a portion of
their water needs. There is general agreement that additional transbasin diversions will be
proposed, but there is need for discussion on whether or under what circumstances additional
transbasin diversions should move forward.
Technical Approach
^ Examine the risks associated with additional Colorado River Compact development (see
Compact Development above).
^ Evaluate alternatives for the protection and compensation to the basin-of-origin.
A coon T tem
At their August 2008 meeting, the IBCC had a preliminary discussion on compact
development and transbasin diversions. These strategies will be further evaluated at the
October meeting.
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