Drought & Water Management

• Title: What the Current Drought Means for the Future of Water Management in Colorado
• Date: 1/1/2003
• Description: 2002 Drought Impact Report
• Basin: Statewide
• Drought Mitigation - Doc Type: Reports

VI. An Integrated Approach to Meet Colorado's Future Water Demands and Drought
ManagementNeeds ..................................................................... ............................... 41
A. Range of Costs for a Variety of Water Management Options .... ............................... 41
B. Conservation and Demand Management .................................... ............................... 42
C. Municipal - Agricultural Cooperation .......................................... ............................... 43
D. Supply Integration, Management and Development .................. ............................... 43
1. Arkansas Basin ....................................................................... ............................... 44
2. South Platte Basin — Southern Portion .................................... ............................... 44
3. South Platte Basin — Central Portion ...................................... ............................... 45
4. South Platte Basin — Northern Portion .................................... ............................... 46
5. Colorado River Basin .............................................................. ............................... 47
E. Annual Water Supply Reliability Report .................................... ............................... 48
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 11. 1. April Snowpack in Colorado .................................................. ............................... 6
Figure II.2. Colorado SNOTEL Precipitation ........................................... ............................... 7
Figure II.3. Colorado Aggregate Streamflow Index .................................. ............................... 9
Figure IIA. Colorado Reservoir Storage by Basin and Month ................ ............................... 11
Figure II.5. Average Reservoir Storage by Basin in October 2002 ........ ............................... 12
Figure V.1: Typical Streamflow Pattern (Cache la Poudre River) .......... ............................... 31
Figure V.2: Typical Year -to -Year Variation in Streamflow (Cache la Poudre River) ........... 32
Figure V.3. The Regulation -Flow Ratio in Relation to Usable Capacity ............................... 33
LIST OF TABLES
Table 11. 1. Table of Percent Storage Capacity Filled in July 2002, in July 2001, and Average
JulyCapacity .................................................................................... ............................... 10
Table 111. 1. Economic Impact Total Costs and Avoidable Costs of Drought, by Sector........ 19
Table IV. 1. Denver Water Drought Levels and Water Use Reduction Goals ........................ 22
Table IV.2. 2002 Municipal Water Restrictions for East Slope Water Providers .................. 27
Table IV.3. 2002 Municipal Water Restrictions for West Slope Water Providers ................. 29
Table V.1: Existing Water Supply Storage in Colorado .......................... ............................... 32
Table VI. 1. The Range of Cost Estimates for a Variety of Water Management Options (from
DenverWater IRP) .......................................................................... ............................... 41
LIST OF REFERENCES AND SOURCES ........................................... ............................... 51
APPENDICES
Appendix A: Drought Conditions in Spring, Summer and Fall, and Forecast for
NearFuture ................................................................................. ............................... 57
Appendix B: An Example of Comparative Hydrographs for the Arkansas River ................. 61
Appendix C: Capacity of All Storage Reservoirs in Colorado and Their Primary Use ........ 63
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