Colorado Water Dec 2003

• Year: 2003
• Title: Colorado Water
• CWCB Section: Administration
• Author: Water Center of Colorado State University
• Description: December 2003 Issue
• Publications - Doc Type: Newsletter

Figure 1. Percent of water consumptively used in Colorado
by sector. Data aggregated from: U.S. Geological Survey Circular
1200, Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 1995.
that cropland in Colorado accounts for about 20 percent of
the total consumptive use (CU), while occupying 16 percent
of the State's total land area. Diversions for livestock
watering are essentially negligible at this scale. (Ag CU
= 10,500,000 acres x 16/12 inches annual precipitation +
5,505,272 acre -feet for irrigation + 50,082 AF for livestock
= 19,555,354 AF annual CU out of 95.5 MAF total). After
domestic, commercial, industrial, and reservoir evapora-
tion components are accounted for, the remainder of the
water that falls on our state can be said to benefit the natural
environment.
While this alternative view of water consumption in
Colorado may arguably be subject to interpretation and
revision, it is offered to stimulate discussion on several
points. First, in assembling data for this large -scale water
balance, it can be difficult to make comparisons since the
collection of data on water availability and use in Colorado,
by various state and federal agencies, is not, across
agencies, consistently tabulated and reported each year.
Secondly, the fraction of water used in the production of
crops and livestock can be calculated in more than one way.
And finally, there is a need for agreed upon and consistent
data elements and models for calculating plant water use
and needs in Colorado.
Given the difficulty and sophistication required to accu-
rately measure ET, whether it is associated with invasive
species, urban lawns, irrigated agriculture or native veg-
Table 2. Average water deliveries in Colorado.
Total 100%
Source: Colorado Division of Water Resources
Figure 2. An alternative view of water use in Colorado.
Data aggregated from the Colorado Foundation for Water Education
and Grigg, 2003.
etation, a long -term commitment with great attention to
detail is required. As we increase the accuracy of our ET
calculations for various land uses in Colorado, the under-
standing of our water balance and the opportunities for
water conservation will increase.
References:
Brown, Karla. 2003. Colorado: The Headwaters State
poster. Colorado Foundation for Water Education.
Denver, CO.
Grigg, Neil. 2003. Colorado's Water: Science& Manage-
ment, History & Politics. Aquamedia Publishing. Fort
Collins, CO.
Solley, W.B., R.R. Pierce and H.A. Perlman. 1998. Esti-
mated Use of Water in the United States in 1995. U.S.
Geological Survey Circular 1200. Denver, CO.
Percentage
of Total
Agriculture
86.5%
Municipal / Domestic
6.7%
Industrial / Commercial
1.9%
Recreation and fisheries
3.0%
Augmentation
1.0%
Ground water recharge
0.9%
Total 100%
Source: Colorado Division of Water Resources
Figure 2. An alternative view of water use in Colorado.
Data aggregated from the Colorado Foundation for Water Education
and Grigg, 2003.
etation, a long -term commitment with great attention to
detail is required. As we increase the accuracy of our ET
calculations for various land uses in Colorado, the under-
standing of our water balance and the opportunities for
water conservation will increase.
References:
Brown, Karla. 2003. Colorado: The Headwaters State
poster. Colorado Foundation for Water Education.
Denver, CO.
Grigg, Neil. 2003. Colorado's Water: Science& Manage-
ment, History & Politics. Aquamedia Publishing. Fort
Collins, CO.
Solley, W.B., R.R. Pierce and H.A. Perlman. 1998. Esti-
mated Use of Water in the United States in 1995. U.S.
Geological Survey Circular 1200. Denver, CO.