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<br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br /> <br />e'ortezJournal <br /> <br />Water initiative begins { <br />new round of talks <br /> <br />Thursday, December 4, 2003 <br /> <br />FROM THE COWRADO <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL <br />RESOURCES <br />DENVER - According to a <br />statewide study commis- <br />sioned by the Colorado Water <br />Conservation Board, Col- <br />oradans agree that the state <br />water supply should meet <br />eight objectives. The findings <br />were presented in a report <br />made to the board at its meet- <br />ing Friday, Nov. 21, in Denver. <br />The objectives are: <br />. Meet municipal, industrial <br />and agricultural demands in a <br />sustainable manner. <br />-Optimize existing water <br />supplies. <br />-Enhance recreational. <br />opportunities. <br />'Provide for environmental <br />enhancement. <br />.PronlOte cost effectiveness. <br />'Prolect cultural values. <br />'Provide for operational <br />flexibility. <br />'Comply with applicable <br />laws and regulations. <br />"We know the demands for <br />water will continue to <br />increase," said Greg V\Talcher, <br />executive director of the Col- <br />orado Department of Natural <br />Resources, "and that Is why <br /> <br /> <br />, :~1' <br /> <br />'.?'-' <br /> <br />the work of SWSI (Statewide <br />Water Supply Initiative) is so <br />important. This study will <br />enable us to find comprehen- <br />sive, integrated and balanced <br />solutions to meeting current <br />and future needs for water <br />while preserving the environ- <br />ment and beauty of our state, <br />and balancing the many <br />diverse interests," he said. <br />Finding common objectives <br />was one of the first tasks iden- <br />tified for'SWSI, an IS-month <br />study commissioned by the <br />state Legislature and the <br />CWCB that began in August. <br />These objectives are the result <br />of public and technical meet- <br />ings held in each of the eight <br />water basins that brought <br />together such diverse interests <br />as agriculture, inpustry, the <br />environment, recreation and <br />municipalities. <br />"This is a critically impor- <br />tant development for two rea- <br />sons," said Eric Wilkinson, <br />CWCB chairman. "Water is a <br />contentious issue in Colorado, <br />but this shows that the citi- <br />zens ,of the state can reach <br />agreement' on' certain key <br />issues. Moreover; now that we <br />know where there is consen- <br /> <br />sus, we can begin to identify <br />ways to solve Colorado's ongo~: <br />ing water shortage in ways,: <br />that meet these objectives arid: <br />thus meet the concerns and', <br />desires of Coloradans." ,~ <br />The next phase of SWSI 'Wii1: <br />be to analyze existing an,( <br />future water supply an~!: <br />demand for each basin anil <br />consider a wide range ofsolui( <br />tions to meet any tinme~1- <br />demand. Possible solutions': <br />include conservation, reUse of> <br />existing water, transferring!,' <br />water rights,' rehabilitating,'!' <br />improving or enlarging exist1j <br />ing water facilities, and build,;" <br />ing new supply facilities. :{': <br />Both Walcher and Wilkinson;, <br />said thilt SWSI is solution< <br />neutral in its 'objective to,' <br />ensure adequate water sup-" <br />plies for all of Colorado's citi-- <br />zens and the environment,.. <br />with no preconceived soluc" <br />tions or outcomes. <br />The next round of basin":~ <br />meetings will take place in, <br />January and February 2004" <br />with locations-and times to be,' <br />announced later. ,. <br />A meeting for those in thli <br />Dolores and San Juan basins is" <br />planned Feb. 10 in Durango.~' <br />'f <br />