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<br />001388 <br /> <br />~~, /1 lr. '1-/:"~. <br />t.. !~ ;-~ c~. I,J.,,-.I ~1 <br />H t't :'h;/ i "'i\ ['--a;! ~_t <br />~~ i";1 ...~. J i.'t ~1 't <br />U~~:...:.~ ...;;l"....... JA <br /> <br />III. <br /> <br />ANALYSIS OF CONSEQUENCES AND IMPACTS <br /> <br />The water study is premised on the notion that the probable impacts <br /> <br />or consequences of alternative courses of action, and the trade-offs <br /> <br />which are inherent between alternatives, will determine the course to <br /> <br />be pursued. In other words, a possible course of action is judged to <br /> <br />be "good" or "bad" dependiqg on: (a) what will happen if the action <br /> <br />is taken, and (b) the values of the person making the decision. The <br /> <br />water study is designed to address the first of these by showing, as <br /> <br />objectively as possible, what will happen if water is used or allocated <br /> <br />in a certain way. As mentioned earlier, Colorado is reaching the point <br /> <br />where there is not enough water to satisfy all demands. Therefore, <br /> <br />difficult choices must be made as to which uses should be encouraged, <br /> <br />and which discouraged or limited. Those choices should be made only <br /> <br />after comparing the consequences or effects of the alternatives. <br /> <br />Traditionally, water resource studies have depicted impacts <br /> <br />largely in terms of the amount of water going to specific uses, and <br /> <br />have focused on the physical facilities necessary to promote various <br /> <br />uses. In contrast, the Colorado Water Study has defined impacts in <br /> <br />terms of the various end conditions, or social values which are of <br /> <br />fundamental concern to broad segments of society. Thus, six values, <br /> <br />or "impact categories", have been selected. The public response to <br /> <br />these may suggest the need for changes or additions in the six <br /> <br />categories listed below: <br /> <br />1. Dollars of personal income per ye~r; <br /> <br />2. Numbers of jobs; <br /> <br />3. Acres at irrigated cropland; <br /> <br />4. Acres of irrigated lawns and gardens; <br />If::, <br />