Colorado Water PlanColorado Basin Implementation Plan

Grand County Town Hall Meeting

AgendaWe Are Glad You CameColorado Water Plan OverviewGap - Colorado River Basin ChallengesGrand County ChallengesBreakout Sessions

Thank You!Your ideas and input

Included in the final report (appendix)Merge common themes, ideas, concerns and

suggestions with other Town Hall input

Online survey found on websitehttp://coloradobip.sgm-inc.com

Entrance questionnaireInterviews with water professionals, managers  

Colorado Water Plan Overview – Governor’s Executive

OrderCompilation of 9 Basin

Roundtables PlansHow can we meet the

“Gap”?Planning horizon-2050Draft due July 2014

9 Basin Roundtables

Governor’s Executive Order-Why?The “Gap” between future demand and

future projects is real….500,000 acre-feet per year

PopulationDrought Transfer of water rights from agriculture

is unacceptableWater qualityInterstate issues pressingFront Range new supply project

Your OpportunityTransition in thinking

IndividualRegionalStatewide

Colorado River Basin ChallengesLake Powell Elevations

Colorado River Basin ChallengesDrought

Anthony Artusa (NOAA/NWS/NCEP/CPC)

0

2,000,000

4,000,000

6,000,000

8,000,000

10,000,000

12,000,000

Low Medium High

2008 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2050

Po

pu

lati

on

Arkansas Basin Colorado Basin Gunnison BasinMetro Basin North Platte Basin Rio Grande BasinSouth Platte Basin Southwest Basin Yampa Basin

Population Increasing…No New Water

Many uses compete for a scarce and limited water supply

Municipal & Industrial9%

Agriculture86%

Recreation

Environment

Graphics provided by the Colorado Foundation for Water Education

Remaining 5% - recreation/fisheries, augmentation and recharge

What is the “Gap”?

How can we fill the Gap?Already planned projects (Windy Gap firming, Moffat Collection System+)

Conservation Ag to Urban

Transfers

New Projects(Colorado Basin development)

Graphics provided by the Colorado Foundation for Water Education

Population

County

2000 Population

2030

Population

Increase in Population

2000 to 2030

Percent

Change 2000 to

2030

Percent Annual Growth

Rate

Eagle 43,300 86,900 43,600 101 2.3

Garfield 43,800 119,900 76,100 274 5.2

Grand 12,900 28,800 15,900 123 2.7

Mesa 116,250 220,600 104,350 190 3.8

Pitkin 15,900 27,200 11,300 71 1.8

Summit 25,700 50,400 24,700 96 2.3

TOTAL 248,000 492,600 244,600 99 2.3

Colorado River Basin – double by 2030

Grand County – Upper Colorado River Basin Study (UPCO)Investigated water quantity/quality in Grand (and

Summit counties) Developed tools needed to understand impacts of

diversionsSupported negotiations among stakeholders

Current/future water supplyReservoir levelInstream flowsWater quality

Need for additional water supplies for existing and future municipal demands

Instream flows to support recreational uses and maintain low-flows for water quality

Grand County – Stream Management Plan80 miles of the Upper Colorado RiverFrame work for maintaining a healthy stream

system in Grand County - protect and enhance aquatic habitat

Also protect local water uses and retain flexibility for future water operations

IdentifiedTarget flows Restoration opportunities Monitoring recommendations

Grand CountyColorado River Cooperative Agreement

Denver Water and West Slope partnership (34 parties)Framework for numerous actions to benefit

water supply Environment

Denver Water to provide Grand County Provide 375 acre-feet (ski areas) 920 acre-feet Clinton Bypass Water Grand County Mutual Ditch and Reservoir Company – Vail Ditch

sharesDenver Water will not undertake any future water

development activities w/o prior approval of Grand County and Colorado River District

Assist in investigation/acquisition of Shoshone Power Plant by Western Slope parties

Grand County ChallengesDiverse water supplies (groundwater/surface

water)No reservoirs (fens, permitting)Reliance on instream flows

Water qualityFuture populationLarge fluctuations in demands – seasonalComplex water rights (exchanges,

pumpbacks, etc.)

Agriculture

What are Others Saying?Need for multi-use/multi-benefit reservoirsEducate on true cost of waterLand Use Policy

Preserve urban boundaries Limit water use/outside irrigationDepletions not just demand

Water Law PolicyAddress evaporation in municipal reservoirs"Use it or lose it" doctrine New water right should have to prove long term

supply

What are Others Saying?Forest health and water qualityConserve water use in agriculture on a basin

levelAssess savings within the whole ditch systemIncentivize agriculture Limit development

Breakout SessionsWhat are your top 5 biggest concerns?

ConsumptiveEnvironmental and Recreational

(Nonconsumptive)Agricultural