Animas-La Plata Project Water Supply Demand Study

ANIMAS - LA PLATA WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND STUDY
3. DEMAND SURVEY
3.1 Summary of Demand Studies
Sustainability and growth of communities throughout Colorado is dependent on the availability of water
supplies. To identify the water needs and potential water providers interested in purchasing the State's
portion of A -LP Project water, a review of current and future water demands was conducted for the study
area (Figure 1) which is located in La Plata and Archuleta counties, Colorado.
3.1.1 Statewide Water Supply Initiative
The CWCB completed the Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) — Phase 1, a comprehensive study of
future water needs and how Colorado would meet those needs, in 2004. The objectives of SWSI were not to
replace local water planning, but to develop a general understanding of the future needs for the State.
Population and water demands for the eight major river basins of the State were analyzed to quantify how
much additional water resources were required to meet the current and future needs of Colorado residents up
to 2030. Basin Roundtables, an assembly of local interest groups and water experts from municipal users,
agricultural users, local governments, water conservation and conservancy districts, recreational and
environmental interests, and the business community were created to provide input into water planning
efforts. The SWSI Phase 1 study developed nine major water management objectives to evaluate the options
for addressing future water needs in Colorado. The SWSI study also identified that the State can meet up to
809/6 of future water demand in 2030, but assistance in constructing infrastructure, permitting and water
conservation assistance will be required. Past 2030, demand projections are more difficult to identify and it is
anticipated that more intensive measures are required to secure water supplies.
The preliminary draft Phase 2 of SWSI is tentatively scheduled for completion in late 2010 and further
focused on the recommendations to develop in Phase 1 for meeting the State's future water needs. Technical
roundtables were developed to focus on water conservation and efficiency, alternative agricultural water
transfers, prioritizing environmental and recreational water needs and resources and addressing the water
supply gap to meet future water demand.
The A -LP Project is located within the DSJSM Basin. Major SWSI conclusions for the DSJSM Basin
highlight that the water supply for future demands is available, but the lack of infrastructure will prohibit the
ability to use much of the supply. The SWSI estimates that the gap in demand versus supply for 2030 in the
entire DSJSM is 4,900 AF. Additionally, the DSJSM Basin faces rapidly changing demographics for the area
with growth pressures causing localized water shortages in the Pagosa Springs — Bayfield — Durango area.
SWSI population and demand data were developed using data available on statewide water use and
demographics by county. Population projections were taken from the Colorado State Demographer's Office
and are summarized in Table 3 -1. A per capita water use number was developed for each basin. For the
DSJSM Basin, per capita water use was estimated to be 220 gallons per capita per day (gpcd). This number is
based on components such as mean temperature, total precipitation, income and level of tourism.
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P 1DaUGEMCWCB03B372 - Animas -La Plata Demand Study \Deliverables\Reports\FinallALP Cost Demand Study Final Report.docx.