Here’s an opinion piece written by Russ George running in the Glenwood Springs Post-Independent. Here’s an excerpt:
Water is in short supply. In the coming decades, there could be a gap between water supply and demand of as much as half a million acre-feet or more per year. The entire state is put at risk by this scenario, but it is particularly threatening to Colorado’s rural communities. Unless we do something to manage our water future differently than we do today, more and more agricultural water will be bought to supply our growing cities, thereby drying up hundreds of thousands of acres of productive farm land and jeopardizing the economy and livelihoods of rural Colorado. Northeastern Colorado alone is expected to lose approximately 20 percent of agricultural land currently under production from purchase agreements already in place.
This water supply future is unacceptable. We must have a plan that uses our best thinking and problem solving to provide an adequate and secure water future for all Coloradans. In May of this year, the governor issued an executive order directing the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to develop Colorado’s Water Plan. This is an unprecedented undertaking for Colorado, but fortunately much of the work that is needed to develop the plan is already done…
The CWCB, IBCC, and Basin Roundtables have reached consensus on a variety of actions that will lead to a better water future, including support for alternatives to permanent “buy-and-dry” of agriculture, conservation, projects that meet certain criteria, and more. Colorado’s Water Plan will not be a top-down plan full of state mandates and requirements. Instead, it will be built on the foundation of the work of the CWCB, the IBCC and the Basin Roundtables. And that is a strong foundation.
The citizens in each basin are in the process of developing a water plan for their region. Because this effort is under way, we don’t yet know all that Colorado’s Water Plan will include. What we do know is Colorado’s Water Plan will be balanced and will reflect Colorado’s best values. The governor’s executive order specifies that Colorado’s Water Plan must promote a productive economy that supports vibrant and sustainable businesses and cities, viable and productive agriculture, and a robust skiing, recreation and tourism industry. The plan must further efficient and effective water infrastructure promoting smart land use and a strong environment that includes healthy watersheds, rivers and streams, and wildlife.
Colorado’s Water Plan will reaffirm the Colorado Constitution’s recognition of priority of appropriation while offering recommendations to the governor for legislation that will improve coordination, streamline processes and align state interests.
More Colorado Water Plan coverage here.