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002472 - 2 - 2. Like most Color:ld:lI1s, we found ourselves debating the relative IIlerit,; of tlie IIloulltain storage :Jlld 11(>(>er main stelll storage alternatives only a very short time before we began trying to combine them both with the downstre:un main stem alternative. Our problem was that we f~'iled to possess the intr icate know I edge 0 f avai lable n ows and consumpti ve water in the Basin to perform the task with any self assurallce. j[ we could suggest an additional alternative to evaluate, we would suggest this one. 3. The upper Basin alternatives ~tjlJ puzzle us. ^lthough the Two Forks proposal still looks very strong, your study renlinded us of the sheer diversity of proposals and alternatives in this area such as West PlLUII Creek, Gross Expansion, Chatrield Expansion, and changes in manage- ment of Cherry Creek, Bear Creek, and Chatfield. Perhaps like many other people in this area, we still assume that Gross Expansion will occur eventually and that the question of Two Forks as opposed to its various alternatives will also re-emerge soon enough. Our problem is that we fail to percieve the full array of storage and management alternatives in this area as well as we would like, and would welcome a systematic review of them. 4. Statistically the study addresses installing new water storage facilities at 22 locations and altering 7 existing reservoirs'storage capacities and/or management practices. Out of curiosity, we sorted all of the individual options and totalled their consumptive use estimates, for a total of 303,800 - 368,100 acre feet of consumptive use. The range of figures represents the range of sizes and management options described for each site. ObviOUSly not all of the options could ever be constructed collectively. Some are mutually exclusive, while some others are possible only as considerably scaled down versions of what is indicated in the report. Perhaps like many other people, we are interested in this "ultimate vision", however. We suspect that the institutions,financing mechanisms and repayment mechanisms all wi 11 eventually be found to utilize all of our compact allocations, aml that this study is perhaps the first one that goes far enough to show us all of the trouble spots where we need to reapply our organizational and financing creativity with more enthusiasm. Obviously Adams COW1ty has developed these observations out of self interest. The COW1ty is somewhat remote from the Upper South Platte area, enjoying its benefits primarily through the cooperation of other agencies. As such; the COWlty perhaps i.s penllanently COllllllitted to a policy of primarily working with and through other agencies in order to attain its water goals. For this reason the COW1ty perhaps labors harder than many at developing long range perspectives on which particular directions the opportW1ities lie. lYe would welcome any additional information you could provide us Ivith respect to our detailed comments. Respect fully e-1:~J{I, ~d1 r Adams County COlllllli ss ioners Robert A. Briggs, J r. Chai rman IUII)j.IC/js