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E TI NONE Back roundandlntroduction <br />9 <br />Two Roundtables (Colorado; Yampa/White), created as part of House Bill (HB) OS-1177 (State <br />of Colorado 2005), identi~ed the need to assess the quantity of water needed to support the <br />development of the available energy resources within the Colorado, Yampa, and ~Uhite river <br />basins. These two Basin Roundtables applied for funding through the "1177 Roundtable <br />process" to support this study (Energy Development Water Needs Assessment), which will serve <br />to provide critical and necessary information to assist state and local water supply, planning, and <br />development agencies in the review and evaluation of the range of water supply hydrologic <br />impacts of energy development. The URS Corporation (URS) team was retained to provide <br />professional services to complete Phase 1 of this grant study (as outlined in the October 19, 2007 <br />scope of work between the Energy Subcommittee and URS). <br />This water needs assessment represents the foundational step in prescient water supply planning, <br />development, and management activities within the state of Colorado that revolve around energy <br />production development. The study accomplished this intent by defining a range of scenarios to <br />support the analysis of water demands for potential development in four energy sectors and water <br />planning in three time horizons. The future implications of energy development and their related <br />technology for development are unknown. However, based on the current state of empirical <br />evidence and knowledge, the potential for increased energy production in northwestern Colorado <br />is strong. <br />Inherent within the water planning process is recognition that physical and legal parameters form <br />the requisite twin pillars for securing a firm and reliable water supply. The technical analysis to <br />address the legal supply of water available for potential energy production includes, but is not <br />limited to : <br />• A comprehensive review of adjudicated absolute and conditional water rights (direct flow <br />and storage water rights) in perspective of location, priority, amount, and decreed beneficial <br />use(s) of water. <br />• The amount of water historically divertedlstored for application to beneficial use. <br />• The intrastate "river call" history on all tributary streams within the study area. <br />• Potential impacts under the Colorado River Compact (1922) and Upper Colorado River <br />Compact (1948). <br />~~ 1-2 <br />