From The Pueblo Chieftain (Chris Woodka):
The final version of phase one of the study will be considered by the Colorado Water Conservation Board after a four-month review period ends on July 21. The study received $700,000 in legislative funding in 2007-08. But the conclusions of the study provide little certainty about the amount of water left for Colorado to develop under the Colorado River Compact — it could be anywhere from nothing to 900,000 acre-feet — or how the water would be used…
In the last five years, there has been a heightened concern about the ability of the river to deliver water if there were a call from downstream states, as well as the possibility of changing climate conditions that could alter the hydrology of the Colorado River. Politically, the study has been a sort of hinge in discussions on future water projects that could take even more water over the Continental Divide. Two water projects are looking at bringing water to Colorado from the Flaming Gorge Reservoir and the Green River in Wyoming, and at least four other concepts have been proposed to deliver water from various points in the basin. “The Colorado River is one of the most important sources of water supply for the state,” said Jennifer Gimbel, executive director of the CWCB in January. “Colorado needs solid information in order to make smart decisions about future water development.”[…]
[Study] conclusions:
– Basin roundtables need to refine state estimates about future use.
– Climate change will affect both future water supply and demand, but models do not agree on what the impact will be.
– Some of the models suggest Colorado has no water left for development.
– Models of water use in the study do not take into account changes in future use, but only extend historic use patterns.
– Decision support systems need to reflect transmountain diversions.
More Colorado River Basin coverage here.