PUB00007

• Year: 1993
• Title: Proceedings 1993 Colorado Water Convention
• CWCB Section: Water Conservation & Drought Planning
• Author: Robert C. Ward
• Description: Front Range Water Alternative and Transfer of Water from One Area of the State to Another
• Publications - Doc Type: Brochure

Extensive Lead Time Needed to Produce New Supplies: Also, it
takes a long time to deliver new or transferred water supplies to meet
our future needs. The time and expense of engineering studies,
environmental studies, and public participation make the decision
process so complicated that the development or transfer of new water
supplies must be initiated long before the need for them actually
arises. Without a crystal baIlor a better way of making these
decisions, we may be forced to prepare for major shortages and to
entrust our future to luck and litigation.

Impact on Future Development in Other Parts of the State:
Finally, extensive transfers of water from any given area may preclude
future growth in that area. We have seen this happen in parts of the
Fraser River basin. The recent agreement between Denver, the Colorado
River Water Conservation District and others appears to have solved
that particular problem, and I applaud such efforts, but we know that
this risk is a real one.

NEW DIRECTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES

I know we can find solutions to these issues. There are many
options available to us as we seek effective and cooperative ways to
assure adequate water supplies, and protect our agricultural
communities, our environment, and our economy.

As we look at some alternative strategies for resolving these
concerns, I don't think we are talking about a fundamental change in
our water rights system -- and I understand that there may be some
nervousness about that in this room.

We don't need to introduce fundamental change into our water
rights system, but we should not be afraid to explore a more
productive and less divisive approach to problem solving. And as we
examine these approaches, perhaps it is time for the State to play an
enhanced role in these matters.

I say this with some reluctance, because clearly, the people of
Colorado are demanding smaller, less expensive government. But it is
equally clear that the divisiveness, lack of cooperative planning and
endless litigation we have experienced carries its own price tag.

We have many options to consider:

A Reqional Water Coordinatinq Orqanization: We may want the
State to organize the many independent water providers along the Front
Range into an association which could soften the institutional
boundaries that currently isolate and divide our Front Range
communities. By doing so, we may be able to reduce or eliminate
existing water supply shortages, reduce competition and increase
support for new sources of supply, and develop a cohesive regional
plan which assures adequate water supplies throughout the Front Range.

State Incentives: We may also want to use state resources such
as money from our Construction Fund or Water and Power Authority as
incentives to promote more coordinated and comprehensive planning and
management of our water resources. This might be accomplished by

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