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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Section 8 Findings The primary findings of the Colorado Water Development Study are listed below, I. Statewide population projections were extended from 2020 to 2100, Colorado's population is projected to increase by 240 percent to nearly 9 million over the next century, 2. Agricultural water use has decreased by about 15 percent statewide over the past 15 years, despite little net change in total irrigated acreage, Agricultural water use is not projected to increase from the present to 2100. 3. M & I water demands are projected to increase to 2,200,000 ac-ft/yr by 2100 (240 percent increase over 1995 demands) assuming present per capita use factors, 4. Additional municipal water supplies will be required to be developed. 5. Projected additional M & I water requirements by the year 2100 are in the range of 500,000 to I million acre-feet per year statewide, 6. Interstate compacts limit the water supply available for de- velopment. Instream flows for endangered species may limit when future water development can withdraw water from the stream system, but should not limit the amount of water avail- able for development under the compacts. 7, Over 50 major water development and enhancement projects are currently being considered by Colorado's water agencies, This is considered to be a very conservative estimate, The majority of these projects will require inter-agency and often inter-regional coordination, planning and funding to become a reality, 8, A major current emphasis of state water agencies is on de- veloping computerized databases and decision support sys- tems to improve the ability to manage available water re- sources, 9, Over IS types of threats to existing water supplies or planned water development projects have been identified. Opportu- nities for one category of users are often seen as threats by another category of users, 8-1 __ COLOraDO .._ Farm Bureau