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J I j J J i I I J, I . 1 . ], ..i l , 1 1 ~ . Water at Storage Needs Assessment SECWCDI Assessment Enterprise Septem ber 23, 1998 i . , DRAFT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Southeastern Colorado Water Storage Needs Assessment Enterprise, under the auspices of the Southern Colorado Water Conservancy District (the District) commissioned a study in June 1997 to assess the water and storage needs of District members, The draft study was completed in September 1998, This report presents the fmdings from the study, which is termed the SECWCD/Arkansas Basin Water and Storage Needs Assessment Project. The study was conducted by a team of engineers and specialists, including GEl Consultants, Inc" Helton and Williamsen, P.C" and David Bamberger & Associates. The study included a review of existing water supplies available to the District water users; projection of future populations and demands for water in the municipal sector; an assessment of historic '1gricultural water use; assessment of water and storage needs; and evaluation of potential water supply storage and management options for the District to consider, The District entities currently use an average approximately I million acre-feet (at) per year of which 80 percent is for irrigation, If agricultural use is held constant, water use is projected to increase up to 1J 8 million af per year under a "high groWth" scenario. - As part of the planning process, the District constituted. a Storage Study Committee (SSC) comprised of District members interested in identifying ways to meet the growing water needs of the municipal sector while maintaining current levels of agricultural water use and production, The SSC provided extensive guidance to the work, 'as well as reviews of many interi~ work products, Key findings of the Assessment Project studies are summarized below: 1. District population, Figure ES-I, is expected to increase by 578,000 to 886,000 persons, depending on whether a "base" or "high" forecast is used, Municipal water demands in the District's service area are expected to be 94,000to 159,000 afhigher than the current levels, Figure ES-2, The larger incremental water demand is based on a population growth rate equivalent to 2 percent per year, (Conservation measures are assumed to , result in 10 percent demand reduction and are reflected in the demand estimates), 2, Water resources available to municipal entities are generally adequate to meet demands for the "base case" scenario (94,000 af of additional demand), except for certain entities in the Fountain Valley and several towns West of Pueblo. Approximately 11,000 af of additional water supply will be needed, unless other entities are willing to reallocate water- supplies that exceed their forecast needs, 97411\REPORTS\TEX;T_A. WPD ~ GEl Consultants, lnc,