C153659 Final Report

• Contract/PO #: C153659
• Contractor Name: Metropolitan Water Supply Investigation
• Contract Type: Loan
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Report

Metropolitan Water Supply Investigation MWSI Process
2. Information Development (Phase II) - This phase was designed to
inventory and gather relevant information and data and evaluate the
analytical tools available for analysis of water supply options. In addition,
this phase included the initial formulation, refinement and screening of
targeted cooperative water supply opportunities.
3. Modeling (Phase III) - This study phase was to develop the analytical
capability needed to evaluate the individual and combined yield potential
and operational aspects of a variety of water supply options including the
targeted opportunities.
4. Opportunities Evaluation(Phase IV) - This phase was to investigate the
water supply options coming out of Phases II and III in terms of their yield
and operational implications, facilities requirements and costs,potential
environmental impacts and potential institutional issues.
2.2.1 . Phase I Scoping
During the Scoping phase of the MWSI, it became apparent that most TAC members
were uncomfortable with the process of cooperative planning involving numerous parties.
It was felt that this tension came from a combination of factors including a history of
competition among water providers for limited supply; suspicions about possible state
"hidden agendas"in the MWSI; uncertainties about how to structure and conduct
cooperative planning efforts that focused on existing systems; turf issues such as the need
to protect existing supplies; and uncertainties about how the results of cooperative water
supply planning would be used.
Because of these factors, the TAC recommended that the MWSI emphasize the process,
discussions and information gathering necessary to establish and improve working
relationships, and not"target" specific water supply projects for study. This required an
incremental approach that would allow TAC members to exchange"comfortable" levels
of information about their respective water supply systems, identify and understand each
others' issues and concerns, and evaluate cooperative planning opportunities on a gradual
and incremental basis. Although this process would require more time than expected, it
was expected to produce valuable working relationships and, accordingly,was judged to
be a worthwhile investment.
At a two day retreat held in April 1994, TAC members agreed that their primary mission
would be to assist and guide state agencies and consultants in the selection and analysis
of opportunities to achieve better coordination of existing water supply systems. The
TAC also agreed to assist in communicating the status of the MWSI to Forum members
and other interested parties and to serve as a clearinghouse for the exchange of
information and ideas between its members, state agencies and the consultant team.
During the retreat the TAC agreed that the MWSI should focus on four broad conceptual
categories of water supply options: conjunctive use; effluent management; interruptible
supply arrangements; and other systems integration opportunities. TAC work groups
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Prepared for the Colorado Water Conservation Board,Colorado Department of Natural Resources by
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