PUB00004

• Year: 2003
• Title: Gunnison Basin Water: No Panacea for the Front Range
• CWCB Section: Administration
• Author: Land and Water Fund
• Description: Gunnison Basin Water: No Panacea for the Front Range
• Publications - Doc Type: Other

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Re:
Date:

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Recl nts
nice Driver, Executive Director
Bart Miller, Water Program Director
Enclosed report-Gunnison Basin Water: No Panacea for the Front Range
January 8, 2003

To:
From:

Enclosed you will find a copy of the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies' new report-
"Gunnison Basin Water: No Panacea for the Front Range." Based on many months of
research, the report concludes that the Front Range should not look to the Gunnison River
Basin for additional water supplies.

First, the report explains that virtually all of the water that arises in the Gunnison Basin is
applied to legal beneficial uses in the basin, including irrigation, recreation, municipal,
hydroelectric and endangered fish recovery. In short, there is no "free" or unappropriated
water in the basin for transport to the Front Range.

Second, the report finds it would be impnldent and unreasonable for the Front Range to
rely on the so-called "marketable yield" of water stored in Blue Mesa Reservoir. A
"marketable yield" from Blue Mesa for the Front Range likely is miniscule, if it exists at
all. Water from Blue Mesa must first meet the multiple purposes set out in the water-right
decrees supporting storage of this water in Blue Mesa. It also must be stored against the
possibility that, in a prolonged drought, the water may be needed to for deliveries to
downstream states pursuant to the requirements of the Colorado River Compact of 1922.
Moreover, water stored in Blue Mesa is needed for endangered fish recovery and
restoration ofa more natural flow regime in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

Finally, the report shows that the Front Range has other, better alternatives. It can meet
its future water needs many times over through better water conservation and wide array
of "supply-side" water use efficiency improvements, such as dry-year leases, re-use of
already-imported water, conjunctive use of surface and groundwater.

For all these reasons, we find it would be unconscionable for Gunnison Basin water to be
developed for transport to the Front Range.

We hope you enjoy this report. Please feel free to let us know how you feel about it by
phone or email.Bnlce is at 303-444-1188, ext. 214 and [e-mail]. Bart can
be reached at 303-444-1188, ext. 219 and at [e-mail].

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