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As we emerge from the wettest spring in some time with a relatively large snow pack, it's easy for the droughts of past years to become a distant memory, but perhaps it is wise to remember how tenuous is our water supply. And sometimes it is useful to obtain a perspective from other than real estate interests. The following was excerpted from articles by Nathan Fey of Salida on the website of American Whitewater, "a national non-profit organization with a mission "to conserve and restore America's whitewater resources and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely." For more go to http://www. americanwhitewater.org
Colorado generates roughly 95 million-acre feet (MAF) of water on average annually from precipitation. While most of this water is absorbed into the states millions of acres of forest and rangelands, some 16 MAF finds its way into Colorado's creeks and rivers.
6 million-acre feet of water is put to use meeting the needs of Colorado's 4.6 million people. On average, 80% of water used in the state is diverted directly out of our rivers. The remaining 20% is pulled from groundwater and aquifers. Of the water Coloradoans use, 86% is used to meet agricultural needs. Less than 7% is used to meet municipal demands, 2% for industrial needs, 2% to recharge groundwater and aquifers, and 3% for environmental and recreational needs.
As a headwaters state, two-thirds of the surface water generated on average in Colorado is legally obligated to downstream users. 8.8 MAF of water flows to states west of the Continental Divide, including Utah, Nevada, California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Mexico. Colorado supplies another 1.4 MAF of water to states on the Atlantic side of the Divide, including Nebraska, Kansas, and Wyoming.
Colorado's water supply is limited by fluctuating precipitation levels. Drought cycles are a common characteristic of our semi-arid climate. In the drought of 2002, Colorado generated roughly 4 MAF of surface water. Municipal water providers across the state were forced to implement restrictions on water use, and there was concern about Colorado's ability to supply downstream states with their water requirements. To meet demand, an additional 6maf of water was withdrawn from reservoirs and storage systems, which have yet to fully recover. Agriculture, recreation, municipalities, and the environment suffered serious hardship during one of the most serious droughts in Colorado's history. Colorado's obligations to provide water to downstream users via interstate compacts, international treaties, and court ordered apportionment, continues regardless of drought conditions or increasing demands in the headwaters.
Colorado expects another 2.8 million people in the state by 2030, placing more demand on water supplies, more demand than can be met today. The Colorado Water Conservation Board reported in the State Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) that Colorado needs an additional 630,000 AF of water supplies to meet these new municipal demands. Conservation will play a critical role in stretching existing supplies, but cannot meet all the requirements alone. To meet the increase in demand, Colorado is planning for new reservoirs and dams, expanding existing storage projects, and proposing inter-basin transfers and agricultural withdrawals.
12:44 PM - Jul. 27, 2008 - {0} -
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