BOARD02036

• Board Meeting Date: 9/24/2001
• Description: CF Section - Investments - South Platte River Decision Support System Year 2
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Agenda item
September 24-25, 2001 meeting
Page 6 of 15

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Development of the SPDSS will build upon the experipnce, databases, tools and models already
completed for the CRDSS and RGDSS, The South Platte River basin, however, is a more
complex river basin from hydrologic, hydrogeologic and institutional perspectives than either the
Colorado River or the Rio Grande basins, Consequently, in order to produce a working SPDSS it
will be necessary, in some instances, to develop new data and enhance or develop new analysis
tools and models,

e

This feasibility study is based on the needs identified- by water users, the CWCB and DWR as
expressed in a series of interviews and meetings. An original set of 71 interviews was conducted
with water users and State officials in late 2000 and early 200 I to determine these needs. This
was supplemented with three public meetings located throughout the basin and numerous
individual meetings with water users that have continu~d throughout the feasibility study. A core
advisory group has been formed and met twice. :Their guidance is expected to continue
throughout development and implementation of the SfDSS, Technical advisory groups are also
expected to form during implementation to provid~ input and guidance on specific SPDSS
components,

SPDSSALTERNATIVES

Based on the needs identified by the water users, the CWCB and DWR, the feasibility study a
consulting team evaluated the components necessary! to provide the specified functionality, In ..
some cases, a need could be addressed purely by a data component (e,g" additional data
collection), In other cases, a need could be addressed only through the use of modeling or
implementation of a new tool. Where a tool was needed, existing CDSS components were
evaluated and enhancements identified, if necessary, Through this process, three alternative
levels of development for the SPDSS were identified:

. Alternative 1 gives the water users, CWCBi and DWR a "good start alternative" that
begins to collect data and develop tools for adlninistration and planning, It includes a data
collection program that is required to better manage the system, develops monthly water
resource planning tools and provides limited support for improving water administration.
It also includes updating the existing SB 96-74 groundwater model of the Denver Basin,
Because alternative 1 is the "good start alternative", neither the data collection nor
planning tools will meet many of the needs :of the CWCB, DWR or water users in the
near future nor all the needs listed in Chapter f2"

. Alternative 2 is the "recommended alternativ~" that provides the water users, CWCB and
DWR a cost effective DSS that collects nece$sary data and develops appropriate tools for
administration and planning, Alternative: 2 builds on the activities listed under
Alternative 1, plus the additional data collection and components that will be needed by
the CWCB and DWR to efficiently carry out their respective duties both at the monthly
and daily level. Alternative 2 expands the data collection program to include diversions a
that represent 85 percent of the averagel recorded diversions annually. Additional ..