PUB00017

• Year: 1997
• Title: Colorado Water Development Study
• CWCB Section: Finance
• Author: Buford Rice, Ray Christensen
• Description: Study to assist Colorado Farm Bureau in developing recommendations and strategies for dealing with future water resource issues
• Publications - Doc Type: Brochure

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Section 9
Potential
Alternatives

The state's water users and
managers will consider a
mix of several potential
water development
alternatives,

Projected Water Development Alternatives

In order for the State of Colorado to meet future water demands
associated with projected population increases, environmental
programs, interstate compacts and other factors, the State's wa-
ter users and managers will consider a mix of several potential
development alternatives, Projected alternatives do not neces-
sarily represent Farm Bureau policy.

Develop Unappropriated Supplies, At least 450,000 acre-feet
has been identified as new developable surface water supplies in
the State, Developing these supplies will require construction of
expensive new capital projects (reservoirs, pipelines, treatment
plants) as well as dealing with often complex environmental, so-
cioeconomic and political issues,

Transfer Water Rights jimn the Agricultural Sector to the M & I
Sector. Because essentially all growth in water demand will oc-
cur in the M & I sector, it is expected that M & I users will con-
tinue to pursue acquisition and transfer of senior inigation water
rights,

Implement Conservation Practices, Water conservation in many
forms will be pursued to stretch existing supplies, allocate scarce
resources and reduce the need for additional water development
projects, Demand management strategies such as metering and
escalated water pricing may be considered in an attempt to re-
duce demand or at least minimize the increase in demand,

Develop Additional Groundwater Supplies. The majority of the
State's municipal users are supplied by surface water, Additional
demand will be met in some areas with a greater development of
groundwater supplies,

Improve IILuer Use Efficiency. Increased water demands will
encourage improved efficiency of water use, including improved
inigation efficiencies, reduction of evapotranspiration and trans-
mission losses, and conjunctive use of surface and ground water
supplies,

Expand Wastewater Reuse, Application of reclaimed and reused
wastewater will be expanded for agricultural inigation and for
non-potable urban uses.

9-1

__ COloraDo
,._ Farm Bureau