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. I 0 I (.',) (~) ~ I (,It .... I I I I ,~ I I I J I I I I I I I COLORADO The Arkansas River Basin in Colorado is composed of two areas having different characteristics with respect to water supply, land use, and economics. The Rocky Mountains or western boundary of the basin are flanked by the Front Range within which lie the rapidly developing Colorado Springs and Pueblo SMSA's. East of the Front Range is the plains area where the economy is agriculturally oriented. Most of the surface water supply for irrigation of the farm lands originates in the mountains. Because of the varying physical and climatic characteristics that affect water and related land resources planning, objectives of such planning also may vary between the areas mentioned. All water supplies, both natural and imports from the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains, have been appropriated for beneficial uses. Such appropriations are in accord with state law, which defines beneficial uses and their general priority. The Arkansas River Basin has been and continues to be a. critical water-short area. Within the physical and legal constraints, the principal objectives in the Upper Arkansas River Basin in Colorado are listed by major cate- gories as follows: 1. Economic Objectives 1975-1985. Develop and manage water resources to support the future economic and population growth of the Front Range area. Any additional use, or change in use, affects in some way the water uses in the plains area. Therefore, conflicts over the equitable use of water must be resolved through coordinated water and land use planning and implementation and by additional state policy and legislation as needed~ 2. Devise measures to preserve prime agricultural lands which are now being converted to urban development. The Basin's agricul- tural base and irrigated rural economy must be conserved at about the present level. Encourage the settlement of plants for processing agricultural products in the area in order to provide off-season jobs for farm labor. 3. Develop plans and subsequently implement programs for the efficient management and use of surface water supplies, integrated with the conjunctive use of groundwater. Measures to be implemented should include storage facilities on the Arkansas.River and tributaries to cap- ture high spring runoff and flood flowS and make these available as supplemental water for irrigated lands now in short supply. 4. Investigate and implement potentials for augmentation of water supply by improved precipitation, watershed management, irrigation 13