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<br />This evolving public value will increasingly have to be accounted <br />for in the decisions of water managers in Colorado. <br /> <br />....~~t~~la:~~1LT~\~~~~;: <br /> <br />developing: ways to incorporate:this,i::ongern:'... <br />into water allocation decision making? 'Itso, <br />how can it be incorporated? <br /> <br />INCREASING NEEDS <br /> <br />Urban Needs <br /> <br />The controversy over water transfers is largely driven by <br />urban needs. 72.~8 percent of Colorado's residents live in <br />urbanized areas.l 75.64 percent live in places having ~o,ooo or <br />more people. Towns and cities must meet current needs, plan for <br />future population growth and be prepared for times of drought. <br /> <br />Water supplies for municipal use, including domestic, <br />commercial, and irrigation, generally are supplied by city water <br />departments or by special water districts. Because cities must <br />plan for population growth and development, the courts have <br />allowed cities to appropriate more water than necessary for their <br />immediate needs.2 This is referred to as the "Great and Growing <br />Cities Doctrine." <br /> <br />'i <br /> <br />In addition to population growth, cities must be <br />their residents' water needs in time of drought. <br />supplies must be established. <br /> <br />Conflicts Among Uses <br /> <br />Recreational, environmental, agriCUltural and other needs <br />have strong seasonal preferences for volume, time of year, and <br />duration of instream flows, many of which conflict. Late summer <br />reservoir releases may extend the ratting season and increase the <br />tourist indUStry's income, but farmers need the releases earlier <br />in the year for their crops. In addition, releases of water that <br />are significantly different than the natural seasonal flows of <br />the river affect the river's aquatic and riparian communities. <br /> <br />able to meet <br />Adequate water <br /> <br />; ~ <br />i <br /> <br />Furthermore, recreational uses made possible by the transfer <br />of water may benefit large numbers of people while negatively <br />impacting the area of origin. OVer two-thirds of Colorado I s <br />residents are urban dwellers, the majority of them living in <br />Front Range cities. Many of Colorado's tourist attractions <br />involve recreational use of water, and instate urban dwellers <br /> <br />3 <br />