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-2- <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />Statewide Water Supply Initiative <br />Draft General Scope <br />March 26, 2003 <br />The following DRAFT general scope of work provides an initial overview of the technical approach, <br />which is proposed to guide the SWSI effort. The scope is still under development and the <br />information summarized here is provided to the CWCB to obtain their perspective regarding the <br />general direction for SWSI. <br />Introduction and Overall Purpose <br />The CWCB is the state agency responsible for: aiding in the protection and development of the <br />waters of the state for the benefit of the present and future inhabitants of the state; gathering data <br />and information to achieve greater utilization of the waters of the state; establishing policies to <br />address state water supply issues; assisting in the mediation disputes between basins and water <br />interests and facilitating resolution of those disputes; and identifying, prioritizing and <br />recommending water development projects to the General Assembly. <br />The overall objective of the Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) is to help ensure that <br />Colorado will have adequate water supplies for its citizens and the environment. The SWSI will <br />develop a framework that can be used by water managers, water users, and the public to aid in <br />making decisions regarding water demands, water supplies, and water development and <br />management in Colorado. <br />To help attain this goal, SWSI will summarize by river basin, at a reconnaissance (general overview) <br />level, existing water supplies and demands and projected demands up to 30 years into the future, <br />and a range of potential means of ineeting existing and future demands. This will allow water <br />providers, state policy makers, and the General Assembly to make informed decisions regarding <br />the use of Colorado's surface and ground water resources. <br />In many basins, local planning entities have completed studies, identified projects, and are capable <br />of implementing projects with little to no support. SWSI will document and summarize these <br />situations. In other basins, entities may have completed planning studies or may need assistance <br />with plaruung, and/or may or may not be capable of implementing projects without some form of <br />assistance. In these cases SWSI will address planning and implementation gaps; identify projects <br />for possible implementation; and develop strategies for project implementation. <br />By taking both a basin and statewide perspective, SWSI will identify issues and water supply needs <br />and projects. Through the SWSI effort, it is hoped that CWCB will identify if, when, or where this <br />situation might arise, and present possible solutions to achieve a cooperative and collaborative <br />planning initiative. <br />SWSI is not intended to take the place of local water planning initiatives. Rather it is a"forum' to <br />develop a common understanding of existing and future water supply needs and demands <br />Flood Protection • Water Project Planning and Financing • Stream and Lake Protection <br />Water Supply Protection • Conservation Planiung