Click the link to read the article on the 9News.com website (Cory Reppenhagen). Here’s an excerpt:
The state of Colorado is projected to gain 1.8 million more residents by the year 2050. While that can be a sign of economic prosperity, a study by NumbersUSA indicates most residents think that growth will have too many negative impacts.
“We as a society, and the Western world in general, have got to find ways to have long-term sustainable prosperity that doesn’t depend on population growth,” said Leon Kolankiewicz, the science director for NumbersUSA, an advocacy group that favors immigration levels that would allow for population stabilization…
The study includes a scientific survey of 1,024 Colorado residents conducted by the Rasmussen research group. It focuses on several environmental issues, including water. Citing increased traffic, the loss of open space, and a strain on the water supply, 75% of Coloradans surveyed said urban sprawl, which is the encroachment of cities into natural space and agricultural space, is making Colorado a worse place to live. Kolankiewicz said urban sprawl damages natural waterways, takes water away from agriculture and reduces the supply of water. Of those surveyed, 70% said water should not be diverted away from agriculture in favor of supporting further urban development. And 76% said water should be kept in streams to support wildlife.
Rebecca Mitchell, Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, said even with a stable or reduced population, there still may not be enough water because of a 20-plus-year mega-drought in the West.
“We don’t fight with Mother Nature; we dance with her, and we embrace her. And I think how we do that is by living within what she provides,” she said.