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Why Focus on Water Research?
The 2006 Colorado’s Future conference targeted the use of data in
Colorado’s
water basin negotiations.
The Colorado water basins are the result of Colorado state
legislation
HB05-1177, which created mandatory water basin
roundtables and a statewide Interbasin Compact Committee in 2005. In
response to predictions of continued population growth and
corresponding water shortages, the bill designates a wide array of
representative interests that must sit on the basin roundtables, and
requires each water basin to conduct a basin needs assessment.
Now in its second year, the water basin roundtables are embarking
upon basin-wide needs assessments. The results of these needs
assessments will frame discussions about future water diversions and
allocations within Colorado. The needs assessment must address both
water needs and availability issues, including
- Consumptive and non-consumptive water needs
- Available and unappropriated waters in the basin
- Projects or non-structural methods for meeting water supply needs
The October 6th conference focused on identifying what information
is needed, understanding how best to use research, and knowing the
limitations of data. Each aspect is critical to developing sound
needs assessments, prioritizing projects, and negotiating
differences among interests.
Conference Proceedings
The conference consisted of three workshops focused on research,
data collection, and decision making. Each workshop featured a
guidebook of materials and discussion time. Workshop proceedings can
be accessed on this website in two forms: as
workshop packet materials or as
individual presentations and articles.
Acknowledgements
The Colorado’s Future 2006 Conference was produced by the Colorado
Institute of Public Policy at Colorado State University, in
conjunction with the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and
the
Center for Colorado Policy Studies at the University of Colorado
– Colorado Springs. Many thanks to our sponsors:
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