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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. The drought has created a new issue of top public concern. Pictures of threatening fires, the smell of <br />smoke In metro areas, drained reservoirs and water restrictions have captured voter attention. <br /> <br />. Public concern is both on a statewide and a local level. Statewide, voters believe Colorado Is <br />unprepared for the drought and new storage is needed. Locally, voters believe their cities and towns <br />lack adequate water supply. <br /> <br />. Two-thirds of voters In every area of the state support additional water storage projects. <br /> <br />. Vaters prefer user fees over sales taxes to fund water projects, but at this point both financing <br />approaches have majority support. <br /> <br />. Coloradans are eager to claim their share of surplus Colorado River water flowing to downstream <br />states. A majority of those who support claiming Colorado's excess water also support diverting some <br />of the water to the Front Range. <br /> <br />. Voters believe farming and ranching should be protected from water appropriation by cities and towns, <br />but voters support water partnerships between agriculture and population centers if the approach does <br />not harm farming and ranching communities. <br /> <br />. Except for golf courses, lawns and river rafting, C.olorado voters are reluctant to require large <br />reductions in water use. The public does not support large water reductions for agriculture, business, <br />fishing, food preparation, municipalities or in-home use. <br /> <br />. Voters support continued building of new homes in mountain fire danger areas. <br /> <br />End Note: Questions Concerning Colorado Surplus Water <br /> <br />Historically the state's populated areas have received their main supply of water from rivers on the Western <br />Slope such as the Colorado River. In recent years, there has been much discussion about the need for <br />additional water supplies for the areas of the state facing water shortages, <br /> <br />After I read the following statements about current water issues, please tell me which opinion comes closest to <br />your views on this issue. [READ IN ORDER LISTED] <br /> <br />A. In most Colorado river basins all the water has been put to legal use. But it is estimated that <br />approximately 450,000 acre-feet a year of the state's Colorado river water is not legally allocated for <br />use, The surplus Colorado River water flows west out of the state and is used by residents, <br />businesses and farms in Arizona, California and Nevada. Colorado should keep its share of surplus <br />water and use it here. <br />or <br /> <br />B. In order to keep the 450,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water, the state would have to build storage <br />and diversion facilities such as dams, reservoirs, tunnels and pipe lines. Colorado should not build any <br />new reservoirs or water diversions. It should continue to allow water from Western Slope rivers to <br />leave the state. <br /> <br />Statement A 59% <br />Statement B 28% <br />Don't knowlrefused 13% <br /> <br />C. <br /> <br />Ask voter who picked statement A: Some of the water saved for use in Colorado would be diverted <br />to residents living in Front Range cities and towns of Colorado. Transferring water from the Western <br />