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~~~~ EEE ~ffi@rn&~~~9 IDJ~~~~s ~IDJ~ &~@~& @@IDJ~~ffi~EIDJ1f~ The problems of the Front Range study area, as they relate to the conservation, use, and development of its water and related natural resources, are caused by one significant trend; a rapidly expanding population placing demands on limited natural resources and the associated encroachment by urbanization and industrialization on the agricultural community. Thus, we see farms near all communities being replaced by factories, buildings, and homes. Although planning for the future conservation, allocation, and distribution of water along the Front Range is of utmost importance, the problem of land utilization is of even greater significance. The competition between agricultural land use and urban land use, the sporadic distribution of industries as opposed to strategically located and planned industrial developments, the congregation of immigrants into population centers as opposed to locating in planned smaller communities, and similar problems associated with the increasing demands on land and water should be taken into consideration by planners of this area. The establishment of industry, both agriculturally related and otherwise, together with the area's pleasant environment, have been major factors contributing toward the influx of people. The expanding economy, the advantages of smaller communities accessible to the Denver metropolis, have contributed toward the advantages of Front Range living. But how long can this trend continue? How long can the water and other natural resources continue to meet the increasing demands of the expanding population? How may these resources best be conserved and used to the advantage of all? These are the questions facing the planners in the FrontRange area. WATER SUPPLY VS DEMAND The major water use in the study area is irrigation. During the period 1957 to 1971, about 1,022,000 acre-feet per year was used on approximately 480,000 acres. Of this amount, about 844,000 acre-feet was surface water and 178,000 acre-feet was obtained from ground water. This amounts to an average of 2.13 acre-feet per irrigated acre. One of the growing problems associated with the operation of the irrigation facilities is the transfer of irrigation water rights from irrigation to municipal water use. As the M&I user requires water delivery in a different pattern than that of the irrigator, the present irrigation-M&I canals cannot be operated as they were historically for irrigation, thus causing considerable hardship to some of the irrigators. In order to help determine the future water demand for municipal and industrial use in the Front Range study area, population census figures for Boulder, Larimer, and Weld Counties were projected by the county planning offices for the years 1980 and 2000, as shown below: 1970 Population projections Co u nty Census 1980 2000 Sou Ider 131,889 213,900 323,700 Larimer 89,900 130,000 234,000 Weld 89,297 140,000 215,500 Totals 311,086 483,900 773,200 Exhibit 111-1 compares these projections with projections prepared by the Colorado State Planning Office. Population projections and projected M&I water requirements for the study area only are shown in table IV-2. 111-1