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<br />A Dry Legacy <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />i~ ~., -1~ (.. ~ -, 4' <br />I h {.:::I' ( 'nt ..... i iC~'l ()C -nT t '.~, .,"~~-' ~.' - <br />J.. ~-' V ~ ~(t_l.-L v1..:..:__ '_' ._~ J _I.. \'-' \-::~ ':,-,'_~ :_',.'_."_ <br /> <br />:--, , <br />, ")1 i 'o-"'n <br />_ \.J.. ! \:,,;10 <br /> <br />Colorado, the birthplace of many of the West's <br />great rivers, is home to 107,403 miles of streams <br />and rivers including the headwaters of the Platte, the <br />Arkansas, the Rio Grande and the mighty Colorado~ .' <br />These rivers and their tributaries are the lifeblood <br />of the state's landscape, supporting fish and other <br />aquatic life, maintaining healthy riparian corridors <br />for wildlife, fueling local recreation and tourism <br />industries, sustaining cities and agriculture, and <br />contributing to the high quality of life that has led so <br />many to make Colorado their home. <br /> <br />With all of these rivers and streams, it may be <br />hard to imagine that Colorado could have problems <br />due to lack of water. Yet declining streamflows <br />are among the biggest threats to Colorado's aquatic <br />ecosystems. Colorado is a semi-arid state, averaging <br />only 16 inches of precipitation annually. With the <br />state's population exploding, competition for this <br />limited water is getting fiercer. . <br /> <br />Most of Colorado's water comes from snowmelt <br />in the high mountains. About 70% of the water <br />available for use each year comes during the spring <br />runoff period from May to July with declining levels <br />thereafter. While this means that natural flows can <br />be quite low for much of the year, Colorado's plants <br />and animals have adapted over thousands of years to <br />thrive in this environment. However, they were not <br />prepared for the dramatic impacts that have resulted <br />from extensive land and water development. Some <br />rivers have been drawn critically low and some <br />have even dried up completely with little regard <br />for the fish, wildlife, and people who rely upon <br />healthy rivers. <br /> <br />This report describes the laws, institutions, <br />and practices that have brought us to this point, <br />provides the stories of 10 rivers that suffer <br />from inadequate flows, and includes common-sense <br />recommendations for addressing the problems at a <br />state, local, and household level. If we wish to <br />restore these damaged rivers and prevent other rivers <br /> <br />from suffering similar harm. we must take action now <br />to adapt Colorado's historic water policies to better <br />reflect the state's 21st Century values. <br /> <br /> <br />Blue/.: C:iiYOIl olrf'.- ',"ison Nur!o;,G! .':)~rr!.:. <br /> <br />.~ <br />