Laserfiche WebLink
BACKGROUND PAPER <br />STUDY OF LONG-TERM AUGMENTATION OPTIONS FOR <br />THE WATER SUPPLY OF THE COLORADO RIVER SYSTEM <br />Approximately 25 million people in the American Southwest currently depend upon the Colorado River's <br />waters for their lives and livelihoods. Western migration in the United States occurred throughout the last <br />centui-y. The West remains a popular destination and was identified as the fastest-growing region in the <br />country based upon the 2006 census. The area is projected to grow by another 29 million people by 2030. <br />In spite of aggressive conservation activities, additional water supplies will be needed to meet demands in <br />the future. In addition, the primary source of supply for these people continues to be mired in a drought of <br />historic severity. In 2002 alone, flows were approximately 3.5 trillion gallons (11.25 million acre-feet) <br />belo,?v average. As a result, reservoirs that were brimming with water as recently as 2000 have receded <br />more than 100 feet, having lost half of their stored water. <br />The Seven Colorado River Basin States recognize the importance of maintaining a reliable water supply <br />for this region's residents in the future. Additionally, they committed to the Secretary of the Interior in the <br />Apri12007 Basin States Proposal to explore augmentation options, and that proposal calls for the <br />development of 75,000 acre-feet of augmentation as a permanent supply for Nevada. Accordingly, the <br />Basin States have undertaken a comprehensive analysis based upon current technology to identify <br />potential options that could augment the Colorado River's flows. An independent engineering firm <br />exami.ned augmentation options based on several evaluation parameters to gauge their feasibility, <br />environmental viability and potential benefit to the citizens of the Southwest. The study, which is <br />techni.cal in nature and does not attempt to encompass legal, political or policy factors, was administered <br />in coryunction with a steering committee comprised of representatives from the Seven Colorado River <br />Basin States. The study provides a comparison of options but makes no recommendations or next steps <br />for any option. <br />Both the augmentation options and criteria are listed below: <br />AuEnientation Option <br />- Brackish Water Desalination <br />- Coalbed Methane Produced Water <br />- Conjunctive Use (banked water) <br />- Ocean Water Desalination <br />- Pomier Plant Consumptive Use Reduction <br />- Res,-.rvoir Evaporation Control <br />- River Basin Imports <br />- Stormwater Storage <br />- Vegetation Management <br />- Water Imports Using Ocean Routes <br />- Water Reuse <br />- Weather Modification <br />Evaluation Parameters <br />- Location of Water Supply <br />- Quantity of Water Potentially Available <br />- Water Quality <br />- Technical Issues <br />- General Reliability of Supply <br />- Environmental Issues <br />- Permitting <br />- Cost per Acre-Foot <br />The results of this study will assist the Colorado River Basin States in making decisions about any future <br />augmentation efforts.