The state water agency creating a statewide water plan met Wednesday at Sky Ute Casino and approved a “conceptual framework” to guide future proposals for diversion of Western Slope water to Front Range urban areas.
Trans-mountain diversions (TMDs) are the hot-button issue in the Colorado Water Plan for Western Slope water interests. The Colorado Water Plan is being drafted to address water-supply gaps with state population projected to reach 10 million by 2050.
The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) is drafting the plan. Meeting at the casino Wednesday, the board voted unanimously to include the conceptual framework in the water plan. The board was scheduled to continue meeting Thursday.
CWCB member John Stulp called the conceptual framework “a guidance document for future negotiations.” The guidance notes that future TMDs will avoid increasing the risk of a compact deficit, the amount of water Upper Colorado River Basin states are obligated to deliver to Lower Basin states as measured at Lee’s Ferry in the Grand Canyon. Declaration of a compact deficit could have serious impacts to Western Slope water users.
Board member John McClow added, “On the West Slope, TMD is the number one issue in the water plan. I think this framework addresses that very well. It’s a concern on the Front Range, as well.”
Several CWCB members and other speakers said the conceptual framework and the state plan is a big step forward.
Durango water engineer Steve Harris agreed, but he objected that the plan doesn’t include a cost versus water-yield comparison of TMDs with alternative water sources.
“I understand it’s not included, and it should be,” he said.
The plan includes Basin Implementation Plans created by nine water basin roundtables around the state. Whitehead said the Southwest Basin Roundtable “supports first the development of resources (such as storage projects) in the basins that have the biggest supply gaps.”