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<br />. <br /> <br />INTRODUCTJ ON <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The Colorado satellite-linked monitoring system provides real-time water <br />resources data on a continuous basis from key gaging stations across the state <br />of Colorado. The computerized system can be accessed by computer terminal <br />from any location via phone communications. These data and appropriate appli- <br />cations software provide for more effective water rights administration, com- <br />puterized hydrologic records development, flood warning, and water resources <br />management. <br /> <br />The system was provided to the State Engineer by the Colorado Water <br />Resources and Power Development Authority. The Authority's Board was con- <br />vinced through a two-year demonstration project in the Arkansas River and Rio <br />Grande basins that the system could be an important tool in water resources <br />management. Since the enhancement of water resources management is one of its <br />goals, the Authority elected to fund the installation of the system and its <br />first year (FY 1984-85) of operation at a total cost of $1.8 million. <br /> <br />The Authority awarded the contract, under competitive procurement, to the <br />Sutron Corporation, Herndon, Virginia, in May, 1984. The original contract <br />called for Sutron to provide a turn-key system including remote data <br />collection hardware for 82 stations, receive site, central computer, and <br />operating/applications software. In March 1985, the Authority approved an <br />expansion of the monitoring network by an additional 68 stations. This <br />effectively brought the statewide network to 150 stations. The system accep- <br />tance test was successfully run on August 8, 1985. The system was formally <br />dedicated on October 4, 1985. At that time, the Authority turned the system <br />over to the state of Colorado under the jurisdiction of the Office of the <br />State Engineer. <br /> <br />The Colorado satellite-linked water resources monitoring system received <br />national merit awards in 1985 and 1986. The National Society of Professional <br />Engineers selected the system as one of ten outstanding national engineering <br />achievements for 1985. The Council of State Governments selected the system <br />as one of eight of the top innovative programs instituted by state government <br />in the nation for 1986. Colorado remains the only state in the nation to <br />operate a statewide monitoring system of this type. Colorado remains in the <br />forefront in utilization of this technology with other western states in the <br />planning process to install and operate similar systems. These states include <br />Utah, Texas, California, Idaho, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, and Hawaii. <br /> <br />The interest in real-time data collection for monitoring water resources <br />and other natural resources data is growing at an incredible rate due to the <br />need for such data and the cost effectiveness. Various federal agencies, <br />water conservancy districts, municipalities, and private entities now operate <br />nearly 100 satellite-linked data collection stations in Colorado in addition <br />to the state operated network. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />I <br />!.. <br />i <br />i <br />j <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />I <br />i. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />-1- <br /> <br />. <br />