<br />c;~<??n
<br />UU1~~"J
<br />
<br />UNIVERSITY WATER NEWS
<br />
<br />
<br />11
<br />
<br />RTVCSU TEAM SELECfED FOR COLORADO RIVER STUDY
<br />
<br />by Greg SUU".."
<br />
<br />The Colorado Department of Natural Resources has selected the
<br />project team of Colorado State University and its prime
<br />contractor, Riverside Technology, inc, (RTi), to develop an
<br />advanced computer-based decision support system for the
<br />Colorado River .- the Colorado Rivtr Decisio" Support System
<br />(CRDSS), RTi and CSU submitted a proposal for the design
<br />and development of the system, and were rewarded with the
<br />fItst-year contract of approximately $1.2 million.
<br />
<br />Recent developments among the seven Colorado River Basin
<br />stales (one example being the Roan Creek Proposal) illustrate
<br />the increasing need f"r an effective tool by which stale water
<br />officials and other water users and interests can administer.
<br />manage, and account for waler supply and use along the
<br />Colorado River, The complexity of water rights transfers,
<br />augmentation plans. exchanges, and number of water rights on
<br />the river is inunense.
<br />
<br />The Colorado Water Conservation Board's (CWCB) annual
<br />appropriations bill for 1992 authorized the expenditure of funds
<br />by the CWCB to undertake a feasibility study of developing and
<br />implementing a CROSS, The study report determined that a
<br />data~entered decision support system was feasible to address
<br />the stale's needs, and recommended that the CROSS be
<br />developed over a four-year period. The initial focus in years I
<br />and 2 will be on database design and construction, analysis of
<br />the capability 10 utilize the Cll1Tenl version of the USBR's
<br />Colorado River Simulation Model, and the development of
<br />conswnptive use and water rights planning models, Years 3 and
<br />
<br />4 include completion of the consltUction of the database and
<br />remaining models and other relaled activities, The proposed
<br />CROSS will likely be an open system and data-<:entered to
<br />promote information sharing among government agencies and
<br />water users. Expectations are that the system will be efficient,
<br />easy to use by a wide range of interests, and employ a Graphic
<br />User Interface (GUI),
<br />
<br />When complete, the system should have the capability of
<br />addressing a multitude of issues on the Colorado River such as:
<br />improved water use efficiency, exchanges between water users.
<br />construction of new reservoirs (or enlargement of existing
<br />facilities), augmentation and replacement plans, and the
<br />development of additional beneficial uses (such as the state's
<br />minimum streamf10w program). Development of the CROSS
<br />will make it possible to address these issues and evaluate
<br />alternative "whal if' scenarios in the planning process before the
<br />change occurs.
<br />
<br />Riverside Technology, inc, (RTi), a Fort Collins fltm led and
<br />staffed by CSU graduates, is the prime contractor, Lany Brazil,
<br />RTi's Director of Water Resources Engineering, will be project
<br />manager, RTi's Steve Maiers will also be a team member.
<br />The RTi team also consists of personnel from W,W, Wheeler
<br />and Associates, Jon Behrens & Associates, and Water Resources
<br />Management, Ine, (WRMI). The core project team is comprised
<br />of CSU engineering faculty ml"'lbers Neil Grigg, John Labadie,
<br />Luis Garci.. Dazrell Fontane, Jose Salas, and Lynn Johnson of
<br />the UniverIDty of Colorado-Denver.
<br />
<br />EVAN VLACHOS RECEIVES AWRA AWARD
<br />
<br />by Jennifer Roberts
<br />
<br />Dr, Evan Vlachos, jointly appointed 10 the Sociology and Civil
<br />Engineering Departments of Colorado State University, has been
<br />selected to receive the 1993 Icko Iben award from the American
<br />Water Resources Association (A WRA), The A WRA created the
<br />Icko Iben Award in 1971 to recognize persons who have made
<br />outstanding contributions to the promotion of cornmunications
<br />among the various disciplines of water resources, This award
<br />honors the late Icko Iben, one of the co-founders of the A WRA.
<br />
<br />Dr. Vlachos has worlced on a variety of projects nationally and
<br />abroad dealing with aspects of naturaJ resources management,
<br />water resources planning, forecasting and futurism, technology
<br />assessment and demography, Specific recent contributions and
<br />projects include preparation of a 3-voJume snu:tY of waler
<br />resources planning in Southern Portugal; climate and water
<br />
<br />.. ..-.... .._,_..--..-.....__.'..n.~...
<br />
<br />resources (NATO); managing droughts (NS!'); and
<br />transboundary water problems (Ford Foundation),
<br />
<br />Currently, Dr. Vlachos is the Associate Director of the
<br />International School of Water Resources, Vlachos served as
<br />Director of the Environmental Resources Center at Colorado
<br />State University between 1979.1984. In addition, he served as
<br />a Member and Olainnan of the Enviromnental Advisory Board,
<br />U,S, Army Corps of Engineers between 1982-1987 and the
<br />Committee on hrigation-Induced Water Quality Problems of the
<br />National Research Council.
<br />
<br />,,'
<br />
<br />. ,
<br />Dr, Vlachos was honored at the awards luncheon, 29th Annual
<br />A WRA Conference and Symposium, September 1st in Tucson,
<br />Aoizona, '
<br />
<br />'I
<br />
|