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Western Water Policy Review Commission Report — Pursuant to the Western Water Policy
<br />Review Act of 1992, the President was directed to undertake a comprehensive review of federal
<br />activities in the 19 western states that directly or indirectly affect the allocation and use of water
<br />resources. A 22 member Advisory Commission was appointed to undertake this task. The
<br />Commission has issued a draft report and numerous side bar reports that proposes a number of
<br />directions that would disrupt state water rights and economies based on irrigated agriculture. Staff
<br />has commented as appropriate on the many reports and will continue to provide input to this process
<br />to completion. These reports are likely to have long term affects that will take repeated letters to
<br />offset.
<br />Colorado River Decision Support System ( "CRDSS "). Water management on the
<br />Colorado River is governed by a series of interstate river compacts, an international treaty, a U.S.
<br />Supreme Court Decree and numerous other state and federal laws. In 1992, the Legislature
<br />authorized the CWCB and SEO to conduct a needs analysis and feasibility study for CRDSS.
<br />Subsequently, in 1993, the Legislature authorized the CWCB and SEO to design and construct
<br />CRDSS. The goal of CRDSS is to provide the capability to develop factual information on which
<br />to make informed decisions concerning the management of Colorado River water resources.
<br />CRDSS consists of:
<br />• Databases (streamflow, diversions, climate, GIS, etc.)
<br />• Hydrologic planning models for the western slope of Colorado operating on data for 1975 -91
<br />period
<br />• Colorado River models for the entire basin down to the border with Mexico
<br />• Consumptive use models for the western slope of Colorado
<br />• Water right administration tools for the western slope of Colorado
<br />• System integration software
<br />• Documentation (On -line via Internet and hardcopy)
<br />• User involvement
<br />CRDSS development costs:
<br />• Year 1
<br />$1,420,400 Project
<br />$ 250,000 Personnel
<br />$1,670,400 Total
<br />• Year 2
<br />$1,744,000
<br />$ 250,000
<br />$1,994,000
<br />• Year 3
<br />$1,980,800
<br />$ 342,000
<br />$2,322,800
<br />• Year
<br />$1,400,000
<br />$ 480,000
<br />$1,880,000
<br />• Total
<br />$6,545200
<br />$1,322,000
<br />$7,867,200
<br />CRDSS maintenance costs:
<br />• Year 5 $320,000
<br />• Year 6 $496,000 (projected at this time) (line item funding requested)
<br />All phases of year 1 and 2 tasks are completed (databases, planning models, cu model, system
<br />integration, documentation). Phase IIIa, in progress, will enhance planning models to reflect
<br />100% of the existing water rights in the model. Phase IIIb, in progress, will provide
<br />administrative tools, record extension and special water right accounting projects. Estimate
<br />CRDSS development to be complete near the end of 1998, with an estimated total expenditure of
<br />approximately $7.3 million at this time.
<br />Compact Water Development Projection - The state of Colorado has been participating in
<br />the Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River
<br />Basin since 1988. In March 1994, the CWCB adopted an interim strategy for the appropriation of
<br />water rights based on the needs of the endangered fish, in an effort to integrate the instream flow
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<br />December 30, 1997
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