Weathering Tough Times Together February 20 2003 Colorado Agricultural Outlook Forum

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of five maior rivers from their birth - e on the Continental de to lower eleva- The Colorado, which ends up in the Baja Gulf of the Pacific Ocean. The North Platte, which flows north into Wyoming, turns east and then south- east, joining the South Platte at North Platte, Nebraska. The south Platte flows north- east from the mountains of south central Colorado, flows northeast to join the North Platte and then flows into the Missouri, which flows into the Mississippi, which goes into the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic ocean. The Arkansas wanders south- east into Kansas and Oklahoma and finishes in Texas. The Rio Grande flows south through New Mexico to El Paso, Texas, then turns southeast, forming the bor- der between the USA and Mexico, and eventually flows into the Gulf of Mexico. these rivers increase in size and 'er, they sustain the heartbeat of crado's economy because water 'es multiple uses throughout the orado's water supply has its ori- s in the Rocky Mountains. During winter season, snowfall accumu- is known as the "Mother of Rivers "... lates and acts as a frozen reservoir. With spring, the snow melts and provides runoff for the rivers and streams that branch out to the lower elevations. Much of the water is stored in reservoirs, awaiting use for agricultural, domestic, recreational, industrial, and other purpos- es. These reservoirs, totaling more than 1,900 statewide, can store 8.85 million acre -feet of water. Estimated retail value of this water is $991 million. About 80 percent of the water used in Colorado is for agricultural purposes. Irrigation prac- tices have turned a once semi -arid desert into a $4.4 billion dollar industry that bol- sters Colorado's economy and sustains rural lifestyles. Major Water Demands in Seven Colorado Water Divisions The map below shows Colorado's 10 Water Divisions, often referred to as watersheds. They are used for water right administration and management by the Colorado Division of Water Resources. These Water Divisions correspond with the major river basins in the state. (Upper and Lower indicates portions of the division) er. Wd late Nov -May Precipitation mid Jun -Sep (One of twn wens/ areas in State) Wet late Dec -Apr er: No clear wet or dry season 2ry Jun & Aug -Oct Precipitation Major Demands Major Demands Ory Nov -Feb crops, livestock, skiing and other winter sports MunicipaVindustrial 1.4m irrigated acres, Wet Apr -Jul dryland crop, for livestock, vegetables, fish- —Major Demands nitation ing, hunting, wildlife M i i I/i d ' 1 Upper. We/ late Nov -Apr D1r,Jun -mid Jul Lower: No clear wet or dry season Major Demands Several of Colorado's biggest ski resorts, rafting, vineyards, dryland crops and pasture for cattle Precipitation 'per: Wet mid Nov -Mar y mid May -mid Jun wet: No significant wet son y late May -Jun zhily Wet mid Jul -Aug Major Demands Dryland crops, skiing, lake sports. Precipitation Wd Dec- Mar &late Julcarly May -early Jul, mid Oct -mid (one f l— 11.1 areas in ver. Wet Dec -Mar & late Jul- y Oct. !-May -early Jul & mid Oct -mid 1• Major Demands Dryland crops, corn, apples, ummpo m ustna 1.4m irrigated acres, dryland crop, for live- --- stock, vegetables, fish- ing, hunting, wildlife Precipitation Upper: W,1 late Dec -Apr a�nu ems„ Dry Jun & Aug -Oct 1 Lmver: Dry Nov -Feb Wet Apr -Jul Major Demands ? MunicipaVindustrial 1.4m rv— .s— irrigated acres, dryland er Re .. wRrr s�:sw,s.s. atin+ I peer: Wo Dec -Mar & mid Jui -early Oct, Y May -mid Jul ower: Dry Nov -Apr Lei mid Jul -Sep (driest area ofstate) Major Demands Mostly crops irrigated w /groundwater for I vestock, vegetables, ?. fishing,hunting,wildlife r.?�+.v 4iui}rfiM I Precipitation Nov -Feb _Dr at May -Aug -- Major Demands Municipal/industrial, dry- Precipitation land crops including corn, Wd Dec -Mar & Jul -Aug alfalfa and pasture, vegcta- Dry May -Jun bles and melons Major Demands Municipal/industrial, dryland crops including corn, alfalfa and pasture, veeetables and melons Courtesy of Catherine Shrler, Colorado Water Resources Research Institute and Petra Barnes, Natural Resources Conservation Service xYaa.fiw' ummpo m ustna 1.4m irrigated acres, dryland crop, for live- --- stock, vegetables, fish- ing, hunting, wildlife Precipitation Upper: W,1 late Dec -Apr a�nu ems„ Dry Jun & Aug -Oct 1 Lmver: Dry Nov -Feb Wet Apr -Jul Major Demands ? MunicipaVindustrial 1.4m rv— .s— irrigated acres, dryland er Re .. wRrr s�:sw,s.s. atin+ I peer: Wo Dec -Mar & mid Jui -early Oct, Y May -mid Jul ower: Dry Nov -Apr Lei mid Jul -Sep (driest area ofstate) Major Demands Mostly crops irrigated w /groundwater for I vestock, vegetables, ?. fishing,hunting,wildlife r.?�+.v 4iui}rfiM I Precipitation Nov -Feb _Dr at May -Aug -- Major Demands Municipal/industrial, dry- Precipitation land crops including corn, Wd Dec -Mar & Jul -Aug alfalfa and pasture, vegcta- Dry May -Jun bles and melons Major Demands Municipal/industrial, dryland crops including corn, alfalfa and pasture, veeetables and melons Courtesy of Catherine Shrler, Colorado Water Resources Research Institute and Petra Barnes, Natural Resources Conservation Service