BOARD01391

• Board Meeting Date: 9/13/2004
• Description: WSP Section - Statewide Water Supply Initiative ‎(SWSI)‎ Status Update
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Pueblo Chieftain

September 8, 2004

Water study observers argue
information gap

By JAMES AMOS
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
i
,
Southern Colorado participants at Tuesday's technical
roundtable discussion, part of a statewide water supply
study, had serious questions about whether the study will
produce accurate information. t

The discussion, drawing water users, utilities and other
iparties interested in the Statewide Water Supply Initiative,
iwas held Tuesday afternoon. A public comment session was
scheduled Tuesday night.

I
I'The study is being conducted by the Colorado Water
Conservation Board, a branch of the state's Department of
Natural Resources. Some citizens fear the study is little
more than a predetermined product designed to justify
existing and proposed water projects.

I Certainly some on the environmental and recreation side of
water issues had questions during Tuesday's meeting.

For example, they pointed out that while the study is
supposed to compile all of the state's unmet water needs, it
ignores extra water to be generated by water projects that
are already proposed or under way.

:The study includes a section on the "gap" between water
: needs and how much water will be purchased or otherwise
:developed by utilities and other water users. The study lists