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<br />1993 Colorado Water Convention <br /> <br />OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE WATER SUPPLY FOR THE SUBURBS - <br />TBOllNTON'S PERSPECTIVE <br /> <br />Mayor Margaret Carpenter <br />Thornton <br /> <br />Good morning. Let me first congratulate Governor Romer, the <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board, Ken Salazar, and each of you who <br />worked on putting together this Water Conference. In speaking with <br />Ken several days ago, I was told the objective of these two days is to <br />conduct a thorough, lively discussion of key water issues in Colorado. <br />Judging from the agenda, as well as from the distinguished nature of <br />the assembled participants, I would say that your objective will <br />certainly be met. <br /> <br />As I sat down to prepare my remarks for this session ... my mind <br />recalled more than a dozen years of experiences and discussions ... <br />endless meetings ... committees .. councils... workshops that have <br />been devoted to this topic. For all of us in this room, the subject <br />of water resources is exhilarating in its importance, and yet <br />exhausting in its lack of conclusive resolution. <br /> <br />Looking over the agenda, does anyone else get the feeling that we <br />have been here before? <br /> <br />I'm reminded of the endless hours and the millions of dollars <br />spent pursuing Two Forks the one water project that Metro <br />Denver "had to have" for its future ... but which is apparently <br />not to be. . <br /> <br />I'm further reminded of Governor Lamm's Water Roundtable, which <br />precipitated numerous discussions among East and West Slope <br />interests and among water officials and the environmental <br />community, but didn't resolve the outstanding issues even though <br />it appeared resolution was close following the Boulder lock-in <br />meetings. <br /> <br />More recently, I remember the efforts of the so-called "Gang of <br />Ten," who agonized over the elusive topics of "metropolitan <br />cooperation" including "Front-Range water issues" for at least <br />five years with, I'm sure most participants would agree, minimal <br />success. <br /> <br />When I think about what it takes to develop long-term water <br />supplies, the word "challenging" readily comes to mind. If time, <br />dedication, and money produced water ... the Front Range would <br />definitely be flooded. <br /> <br />Unfortunately these distinguished efforts, in which I have been a <br />proud participant, have failed to produce a single drop of water. <br />Before I talk about why I think these efforts have failed, I'd like to <br />talk about the successes that Thornton and others have achieved. <br /> <br />11 <br />