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<br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />PREFACE <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />The 1976 state legislature, acting on its own initiative, appro- <br />priated $50,000 to the executive director's office of the Colorado <br />Department of Natural Resources for a "water study." The study was <br />funded in an equal amount for a second year at the request of the <br />department. Both appropriations were matched by the U.S. Bureau of <br />Reclamation. Additional funds have been provided by the state's water <br />quality management program. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />The Colorado Water Study is being coordinated with two related <br />efforts. At the invitation of the U.S. Water Resources Council, the <br />Department of Natural Resources is managing a five-state assessment of <br />the impacts of potential energy development on the water resources of <br />the Upper Colorado River Basin. Secondly, the state legislature has <br />provided funds to the Colorado Energy Research Institute for a broad- <br />based study of the effects of future energy development in Colorado. <br />Taken together, these studies should provide a reasonably comprehensive <br />and coordinated analysis of Colorado water issues. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />The purpose of this report is to introduce the Colorado Water Study <br />and review its scope and content. Subsequent reports will provide <br />complete documentation of the information developed by, and the results <br />of, the study. These reports will be, in order of publication: <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />1. A volume of background information and data on present <br />and projected water uses. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />2. A volume on alternatives for the future use and distribu- <br />tion of water in Colorado, on the impacts of such alterna- <br />tives, and on the possible means for achieving the <br />alternatives. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />3. A volume of legal studies. <br /> <br />4. Multiple volumes of technical appendices and miscellaneous <br />special studies. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />It should be emphasized that none of the above reports will make <br />recommendations regarding the future use and distribution of water, <br />nor will they recommend changes in existing laws and policies. Rather, <br />the distribution of the reports will be accompanied by a citizen parti- <br />cipation program designed to provide the public with an opportunity to: <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />1. review and comment on all the information developed by the <br />study and <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />1 <br />