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n~~- r:;\)S VOLUNTARY BASINWIDE WATER MANAGEMENT: SOUTH PLATTE BASIN, COLORADO 7' . '-.J,l -~-- I. INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE 1.1 Introduction The. focus of this study is the South Platte River, the most developed and over-appropriated of Colorado's major streams. Managi ng the South Platte has become very difficult due to the complexity of the rules, laws and actual water use practices in effect. Since property rights are invol ved, the stakes are important to many individual sand organizat~ons. and litigation over water matters has been increasing steadily. These issues are made more complex by urban growth pressures. industrial development and agricultural shifts. The study is based on the assumption that computer-assisted modern technology can provide information that will lead to better water decisions on the South Platte River and its tributaries. Better water decisions are needed to enable water right owners to use and exchange or transfer their water with a minimum of uncertainty and conflict, and with' minimum administrative cost. The technology takes the form of "models." most of which are computer-based, data and new information and knowledge that results from studying the basin. The basic premise of this report is that voluntary. cooperative dec1sion~king and operations can reduce the administrative cost and conflict to South Platte water right owners. and increase their ability to take a~vantage of both surface and ground water suppl ies. If there is to be : more cooperation. then water right owners must have full and clear information about the courses of action available to them. Still, the probl~m is difficult. and the team presents this report as a contri- bution. nQt the final answer to the problem. -" _ok _~;:._~;,-",,<,