Response to Comments on the Colorado River Wat

Response to Comments on the Colorado River Water Supply Availability Scope of Work - October 19, 2007 Individual and/or Date of Comment Response Organization Comment Mark Pifher and 9/30/07 Page 5 Phase I Goals and Organizational Structure, 4. Based on There is n o doubt as to what the U pper B asin is entitled to. Michael McHugh evaluations of previous investigatio ns of Colorado River Compact Water Availability is the issue. entitlements and considering current information, how much water would Colorado be entitled to under the Compacts? Comment – Legal question or is it how much H2O is available (on average)? Transparency issue on how this availa bility is defined. Mark Pifher and 9/30/07 Page 13 b. Following above review, and in consultation with State We have clarified the scope such that there wil be no Michael McHugh legal counsel (and a special State work group that is anticipated to investigation/ana lysis of c ompact administrative options in be established to evaluate administrative means of addressing a Phase I . Phase I emphasis will be on ranges of aggregate Compact Call), prepare and document reasonable ranges for Colorado River allowable depletions and associated flows . Colorado’s Colorado River allowable depletions, the associated (for the Compacts) streamflow leaving the State, and T hat information should not generate confidentially concerns. administrative options. Also document reasonable ranges of Depending on the work product of the separate, special State values during several drought cycles (1930’s, 1950’s, and 2000 - work group addressing Compact issues, the administrative 05). options may be included in Phase II. Comment – How do you keep confidential? Wayne Vanderschuere 10/1/07 Where and how does the South Platte’s and Arkansas’s ag/muni Through Task Orders for the Arkansas, Metro, and South groundwater supply that is or will be at ris k show up in the Platte Roundtables w e are updating information on non - consumptive use demands for the Study? Will that information be renewable groundwater and looking at where providers are updated to be more complete and reflective of the uncertainty and pursuing the same water supply (which includes tributary longevity of groundwater supply? groundwater in the South Platte). This information will be brought in during Phase II of the Study or throu gh an examination of water supply alternatives. Wayne Vanderschuere 10/1/07 Do you plan to visit and/or seek input at all the RTS? The Study Yes. All roundtables and the IBCC will have the opportunity to and situation on the Colorado River affects every Basin directly or provide input. Additional workshops for roundtable members indirectly. They need participation similar to what happened at have been added as well as additional consultation on Colorado river basin RT. individual basin’s water supplies /uses. All roundtables’ input on draft work products will be solicited. Wayne Vanderschuere 10/1/07 Will the consumptive use need data itemize existing and projected Existing water demands for powe r plant cooling within the water demands for power plant cooling. If not, why not? Colorado River Basin and its tributaries will be included in Phase I . P rojections will be made as part of Phase II. Wayne Vanderschuere 10/1/07 As the Front Range continues to develop, how will the Study Assumptions will be made as part of Phase II, otherwise t his is distinguish between dema nds met by Colorado River sources and outside the scope of the specific Water Availability Study, but ag>>muni transfers (east to east or west to east)? will be important when considering wate r supply alternatives i.e. solutions. 4 of 10 Page