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locally from the Denver Basin aquifers. This future scenario is ultimately unsustainable, only the <br />date of its economic demise is uncertain. <br />The regional conjunctive use water supply plan currently being considered in the South Metro <br />Water Supply Study as described in Section V is a conceptually sound and sustainable option <br />that should be pursued aggressively. It combines the components of renewable surface water <br />supply, aquifer recharge and recovery, a reduced level of groundwater pumping, complete reuse <br />of legally reusable return flows, and water conservation to develop a sustainable water future for <br />the region. New surface water developed by such a project should be captured using existing on- <br />stream reservoirs, with small amounts of additional off - channel surface storage development to <br />help regulate return flows. A key feature of this plan will be the capture of unappropriated <br />surface water using Denver's existing reservoirs (Dillon and Cheesman). This aspect of the <br />project should be developed with sensitivity to in- stream environmental and recreational values <br />and reservoir recreational levels. <br />The conceptual basis of the project should be expanded to feature Denver Basin groundwater as <br />a dry -year supply not just for Douglas County but for Denver Water and the West Slope as well. <br />With respect to this latter feature, in dry years groundwater could be delivered to Denver in trade <br />for Denver increasing its bypasses at critical West Slope locations or decreasing its draw -down <br />of Dillon Reservoir. <br />Maximizing the region's reuse potential will require continued efforts in protecting the water <br />quality of Cherry Creek and Plum Creek and their alluvial aquifers, as alluvial well development <br />within these surface water sources will play a prominent role in achieving full reuse. A <br />relatively small amount of new surface water storage may be needed for seasonal re- regulation of <br />return flows, along with regional advanced water treatment and distribution facilities. The water <br />conservation component of the project should focus on reducing outdoor demands. This will <br />increase the overall yield of the project by reducing municipal consumptive use and thus <br />increasing the supply of reusable return flows. All of the small -scale projects currently being <br />pursued by individual providers in the region, as described in Section IV, appear to be <br />worthwhile and consistent with the regional conjunctive use water supply plan being developed <br />by the South Metro Water Supply Study. <br />3. South Platte Basin -- Central Portion <br />Most of the projects currently being pursued in the central portion of the South Platte basin, as <br />described in Section IV, appear to be sound and worthwhile ideas. Denver and Aurora's <br />cooperative use of Antero Reservoir makes sense given Aurora's relatively more plentiful wet <br />year supplies from the Colorado and Arkansas basins that could be stored in Antero. Denver and <br />Aurora's interests in developing the Denver Basin groundwater underlying their respective <br />service areas as an infrequently pumped drought year supply, rather than as a base supply, <br />represents a wise approach to utilizing this groundwater source. Aquifer recharge should <br />probably be incorporated into these plans. <br />If the Corps of Engineers can allocate some of Chatfield Reservoir's existing flood control pool <br />to water supply purposes without significantly increasing the flood risks, it could provide a major <br />water supply benefit to several water providers in the region. Construction of additional <br />! pl <br />