PUB00057

• Year: 1978
• Title: The Colorado Water Study Directions for the Future
• CWCB Section: Water Conservation & Drought Planning
• Author: EDO DNR
• Description: First publicatiom of the Colorado Water Study volumes
• Publications - Doc Type: Brochure

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impact which various future water uses would have on employment oppor-
tunities, the water study will provide estimates of the number of jobs
which would be created or lost if various water uses were either
expanded or reduced. These estimates will be derived from the model
mentioned above and will also include "ripple" effects throughout the
statels economy.

AESTHETIC QUALITY OF URBAN SURROUNDINGS

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The physical environment of our cities and towns is an important
aspect of the overall "quality of life" in Colorado. This fact is
reflected in the attention given to, and concern expressed for, such
things as the design of buildings, the layout of roads and parkways,
the provision of recreational areas, the upkeep of homes and neighbor-
hoods, the Auality of the air, and many other factors. Insofar as the
use of water may have an effect on this value, such impacts will be
measured in terms of the acres of irrigated urban land (lawns, gardens,
and parks) per capita.

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While difficult to capture in words, the opportunity to live in
a rural atmosphere and to labor on the land is a deep-seated value
embraced by many Coloradans. Other elements of this broadly stated
value include preservation of family farms and maintaining the vitality
of rural towns. Intangible though it may be, there can be no doubt
that this is a social and cultural value of importance to many.

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR A RURAL AGRICULTURAL LIFESTYLE

It should be noted that this indicator--acres of irrigated
cropland--will partially measure the impact on values other than the
opportunity for a rural agricultural lifestyle. For example, provi-
sion of open space and scenic vistas are environmental values of

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The impact of water allocation alternatives on this value will be
measured in terms of the acres of irrigated cropland in Colorado. How-
ever, since water allocation decisions are only one of many factors
which will have an impact on this value in the future, this measure,
by itself, is apt to provide an incomplete indication of the attainment
of this value. For example, even if all of the acreage currently
under irrigation were to remain so in the future, it is highly probable
that the number of family farms will continue its historic decline for
some time to come due to economic and technological forces which are
beyond the control of water allocation decisions. Nonetheless, acres
of irrigated cropland appears to be the best possible measure of this
value, given the constraints of available information.

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