Laserfiche WebLink
• <br /> downstream states. Municipal use is about 800,000 <br /> Baca County,Colorado,about 1936 acre-feet (7%), industrial use is about 250,000 acre- <br /> feet (2%), stock water use is about 132,000 acre- <br /> feet (1%), and commercial use is about 16,000 acre- <br /> feet (0%). <br /> ' .. Colorado Population <br /> �• <br /> t•'��. ■Projected <br /> oo,000. <br /> Historic <br /> 4004000 <br /> Photo by D.L.Kemodle <br /> 3,000.000- - — - <br /> 2004°00 <br /> Drought can significantly impact Colorado's --n <br /> water dependent economy. Agriculture, tourism, 0 <br /> hydropower generation, commercial and domestic °° °° °° - ° <br /> use, manufacturing, and mining all depend on a firm some 9ta elenogiepla <br /> supply of water. The potential impact of drought <br /> on the economy depends on how much water is The next drought in Colorado will pose a <br /> demanded by each sector and how much is significant water management challenge. <br /> consumed, when and where it is consumed, and if it Colorado's population is growing at an average rate <br /> can be stored before use. Tourism uses are of 2.9% per year. At this rate, the population will <br /> generally non-consumptive, but snowmaking, double every 24 years. The unrestrained growth of <br /> rafting, and fishing are also effected by drought. our population is resulting in the need for more <br /> water for municipal and industrial (M&I) purposes. <br /> Assuming one acre-foot per four persons per year, <br /> Water in Colorado is used primarily for the need for M&I water is projected to increase <br /> agricultural purposes. Of the approximately 12.4 from 1.0 million acre-feet in the year 2000 to 2.2 <br /> million acre-feet diverted for use statewide each million acre-feet in 2100. Where precluded from <br /> year, irrigation for agriculture accounts for about developing new water supplies and reservoirs, <br /> 11.1 million acre-feet, or about 90%. About half of municipalities are buying farms and ranches for the <br /> the diversions for irrigation return to the river and water rights, and land previously used for <br /> go towards meeting our compact obligations to agriculture is being dried up. There is also a <br /> growing desire for water based recreational and <br /> 1998 Colorado Water Use by Basin environmental use. The patterns of water use are <br /> changing from a seasonal demand to a year round <br /> ,.000,000 - ----------- ■Stock _ <br /> ❑Commercial demand, and new values emphasize in-stream flows <br /> ❑Industrial as opposed to diversions and consumptive uses. <br /> z <br /> ■Municipal Not only is there competition to change water use <br /> g�"'Irrigation <br /> z patterns, but we are faced with challenges from <br /> downstream states and the influence of national <br /> LL <br /> 1'500°03 laws and changing perspectives. Considering <br /> — Colorado's growing population, demand <br /> U (•004000 .sa <br /> < <br /> management will play a huge role in reducing the <br /> 500.000— _—, future impact of drought. <br /> Mass Wo elaswe oaaws&Saw OVifsa, Caaaso Yawn& MalwRWe salhRab <br /> JwJSw Mhslen WNW <br /> 2 <br />