Colorado State Water Plan 1974 ‎(Phase I)‎

• Year: 1974
• Title: Colorado State Water Plan
• CWCB Section: Agency-wide
• Publications - Doc Type: Historical

PART I--INTRODUCTION
Few, if any, issues are more crucial for future development of Colorado
than effective use and management of the State's water and related natural
resources. Unprecedented population and economic growth during the past
30 years has resulted in unanticipated needs and use of water. Coupled with
this, the State is now faced with declining ground-water tables in the Great
Plains sector of eastern Colorado, some streams and lakes are seriously
polluted and critical water shortages prevail in some areas.
Colorado must continue to assess, plan, use, and manage its water and
related natural resources in an intelligent and prudent manner. In doing so,
future water resource developments and use must be more responsive to
environmental needs as well as regional and national economic objectives.
And more recently, a growing national energy crisis has focused on Colorado's
large untapped oil shale and coal deposits as a possible next level of mineral
resources development to help meet the long range national energy demands.
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This Appraisal Report summarizes Phase I of the investigations to develop
a long range Statewide water plan for Colorado. This report presents a
compilation of statistical data on an inventory of the water and related natural
resources of the State and current status of development and use of these
resources. The data are presented in this report by the State's four major
river basins - Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri, and Rio Grande. The base year
for compilation of data is 1970. Data compiled for earlier years were used only
when 1970 data were unavailable. No projections of future conditions are included.
Another purpose of this report is to stimulate thinking among Colorado
citizens about the future of their State. Part VI of this report identifies and
describes the major critical issues and problems that are closely associated
with the present level of water development and use in Colorado. Although some
considerations for action are presented for resolving these issues and problems,
no recommendations are made as part of this Phase I report.
Included also in this report is a bibliography of publications concerning or
relevant to these resource developments.
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