WSP01268

• File Number: 8054.100
• Description: Water Salvage - Water Salvage Study - HB 91-1154
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 12/6/1990
• Author: Natural Resources La
• Title: Background Documents and Information 1991 - Report on Irrigation Water Supply Organizations
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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One way to look at new trustee relationships is to focus on services rendered in addition

to the traditional delivery of water, For example, the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy

District is planning to develop a major new water project to deliver treated water to cities and

counties both inside and outside the district boundaries while at the same time restricting the

sale of already developed excess water outside of District boundaries. This may be in conflict

with the interests of some cities and counties within its boundaries because the district is now

infringing on their traditional role of supplying treated water and determining where

development should occur. The cities in the district have excess water and they'd like to

market this outside the district as well.

The examples here raise the question, "who do these districts serve?" The cities are

more and more finding themselves as underwriters of the districts, yet have no real role or

control over district activities. The Northern District has diluted the value of its user's interests

by bringing in Windy Gap water and then telling the cities that they can't sell their water.

Many of the districts seem to be serving this 'higher mission' of trying to increase the quantity

of the water they acquire and market Even if this is desireable, it may conflict with their

constituents' interest. The districts need to change their focus from acquiring more and more

water to better managing their existing supply. An example of this is the Verde Valley

Conservation District in Arizona where the district is taking on projects for water management

and water conservation.

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