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<br />, . . <br /> <br />'C ~ <br />~1' <br />,,"'a <br />o <br />* <br />... ,. <br />~87fi"'" <br /> <br />ATTORNEY GENERAL OF COLORAfi'D~CE:IVI5.0 <br />, Ken Salazar 0 V 1 3 2003 <br />~lI!lterc: <br />OfIservation BOtti;;; <br /> <br /> <br />November 12,2003 <br /> <br />Honorable Lew Entz, Chairman <br />Water Resources Review Committee <br />Colorado State Capitol <br />200 E. Colfax <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br /> <br />Honorable Diane Hoppe, Vice-Chair <br />Water Resources Review Committee <br />Colorado State Capitol <br />200 E, Colfax <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br /> <br />Re: Water Matters <br /> <br />Dear Senator Entz and Representative Hoppe: <br /> <br />We all recognize that water is the lifeblood of Colorado, We know the importance of <br />water to agriculture, municipal and industrial uses, and environmental and recreational prnposes, <br />Here I offer for your consideration a specific proposal to address the water needs of Douglas and <br />Arapahoe Counties and a general overview of suggested next steps on water supply for <br />Colorado, <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />I. A Proposal to Address The Urgent Water Supply Needs of Douglas and Arapahoe <br />Counties <br /> <br />During the last several decades, some ofthe most litigious and expensive Colorado water <br />wars have been fought over speculative schemes to satisfy the unmet water demands for Douglas <br />and Arapahoe Counties. These speculative efforts have impacted the San Luis Valley and the <br />Arkansas and Colorado River basins in water battles that have wasted tens of millions of dollars, <br />Among the fastest growing counties in the United States, Douglas and Arapahoe Counties have <br />more than doubled in population from about 319,000 in 1980 to about 664,000 in 2000, and this <br />growth has depended on the mining of the finite non-replenishable water supply of the Denver <br />Basin aquifers, Under current law, the Denver Basin water can be withdrawn at a rate of 1 <br />percent per year. Because this water source is limited and finite, it is clear that something must <br />be done to address the water supply challenges of the current and future population of Douglas <br />and Arapahoe Counties, <br /> <br />I am therefore proposing that the General Assembly and the Colorado Water <br />Conservation Board ("CWCB") support an effort that: <br /> <br />;, <br /> <br />State Services B"ilding . 1525 Sherman Street-5th Floor' Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone (303) 866-3557 . FAX (303) 866-4745 <br /> <br />~~ <br /> <br />. '. "" "'" ... ~ ;;.,;l; <br />