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I I ! I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Section 4 Existing Colorado Water Supplies Colorudo water supply conditions were sum- marizedfrom Mo State repo rts and personal communications. Most evaluations are based on 1970 and 1985 data. An overview of existing Colorado water supplies was prepared based on the best information available from State water resources agencies. The three primary sources of information relied upon for this effort were Senate Joint Resolution 94-32 Concerning the Management, Conservation, and Preservation of the Water Resources of the State of Colorudo, Department of Natural Re- sources, July 1995; Colorudo River Compact Water Development Projection, Endangered Fish Flow and Colorado River Compact Water Development Workgroup, November 1995; and personal communication with Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) staff. Tables 3a and 3b summarize the infonnation gath- ered from these sources. The Resolution 94-32 report is the best available publication sum- marizing water resources conditions throughout the state. For purposes of this study, it was used to quantify water resources in the non-Colorado River Basin watersheds (South Platte River, Republican River, Arkansas River, Rio Grande River, North Platte River). These comprise Water Divisions 1,2,3 and a portion of 6. Table 1.1 from this report (see Appendix B) provides esti- mates of native flows, imports and exports, water depletions, and basin outflows throughout the State. Data is based primarily on 1970 conditions, which were summarized as part of the 1974 report WaterjiJr Tomorrow, Colorado State Water Plan. Accord- ing to CWCB staff this is still the best statewide water resources information available, and continues to be a primary source of information used by the State in its planning efforts. A compari- son was made of historic long-term average basin outflows through 1993 with the 1970 data, and good agreement was found. The Colorado River Compact report was used to quantify water resources in the Colorado River Basin watersheds (Gunnison River, Upper Colorado River, Green River, Dolores River, San Juan River). These comprise Water Divisions 4, 5, 7 and a por- tion of 6. Table 4 from this report (see Appendix B) presents annual natural flow, maximum annual consumption, additional water supplies which could be developed based on future water projects, and flows available for instream flow appropriations. Flow and water use data for the Colorado River Basin is current as of 1985. The following excerpts from the Resolution 94-32 report provide background on Colorado's water supply situation. 4-1 __ COlDraDD ,._ Farm Bureau