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Metropolitan Water Supply Investigation MWSI Results <br /> Metro Denver area providers will continue to look to the South Platte River basin for a <br /> major portion of the future water supplies. Based on an inventory of water supply plans, <br /> approximately 45%of the metro Denver area's future water supplies will be obtained <br /> from South Platte Basin water sources. These include additional South Platte Basin <br /> surface water development, conversion of in-basin irrigation rights, Denver Basin <br /> groundwater use and reuse of these sources. <br /> There are several areas of concern related to additional development of South Platte Basin <br /> water sources. The presence of threatened and endangered species on the Platte River in <br /> Nebraska continues to be a major area of concern. Colorado has entered into a <br /> Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Department of Interior and the States of Nebraska _ <br /> and Wyoming to implement recovery efforts for these species and their associated <br /> habitats. Under this Cooperative Agreement, Colorado is developing a plan to mitigate <br /> the impacts of new water-related activities in Colorado on the species and their habitats <br /> through the use of reregulation storage at the Tamarack Project, located along the South <br /> Platte River near Julesburg. <br /> Large scale conversion of irrigation rights,particularly from agricultural lands located far <br /> from urban areas,have raised concerns about impacts to agricultural economies and local <br /> government tax bases. The majority of irrigated agriculture in the basin is located within <br /> the boundaries of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. As discussed <br /> above,Northern has adopted policies to discourage the transfer of native base supplies <br /> outside of this region. <br /> Increased reliance on Denver Basin groundwater as a principal supply by some water <br /> providers in Douglas and Arapahoe Counties has raised concerns about the long-term <br /> sustainability and economic viability of this groundwater resource. While the amount of <br /> groundwater in storage in these aquifers is vast, natural recharge of these aquifers is <br /> believed to be very limited. As future groundwater pumping increases, aquifer levels are <br /> expected to decline. There is a concern that this may lead to higher pumping costs, the <br /> eventual need for additional wells and reduced supplies. Groundwater-dependent <br /> providers have recognized this problem and are actively working to increase the <br /> renewable portion of their water supplies. <br /> Water quality in the South Platte and its tributaries has been significantly affected by <br /> agricultural and municipal water use and land use. Development of additional South <br /> Platte Basin water supplies will put further stresses on water quality in the basin. <br /> Upstream of the metro Denver area, the South Platte River is a major aquatic habitat and <br /> recreational amenity. Construction of water supply reservoirs has inundated several <br /> reaches of river and created significant flatwater recreational opportunities. The <br /> operation of water supply systems has substantially altered the character and flow regime <br /> of much of the remaining free-flowing portions of the river. There is a significant <br /> concern among recreational users,natural resource management agencies and <br /> environmental interests that further development and future operations of water supply <br /> systems do not unreasonably impair existing aquatic environmental and recreational <br /> values. This issue is being addressed in the U.S. Forest Service's Wild and Scenic Rivers <br /> Program Eligibility Study for the South Platte River above Denver. <br /> 19 <br /> Prepared for the Colorado Water Conservation Board,Colorado Department of Natural Resources by <br /> Hydrosphere Resource Consultants,1002 Walnut Street,Suite 200,Boulder,CO 80302 <br />