Development and water: an big issue for Colorado

Like California, Colorado is grappling with the issue of planning for population growth in the face of shrinking water supplies. From the Durango Herald:

More than 4.7 million people live in Colorado today. By 2035, an additional 3 million people are expected to move here. And there are no plans to make sure they all have water. That’s because cities and counties decide how and where to grow. Water providers don’t have veto power over growth. They just look for more water to serve the newcomers.

But a small number of water experts is starting to speak up about growth. Jenny Russell, a Telluride water attorney, criticizes Front Range cities that assume the Western Slope will send them water for their future residents. “That’s irresponsible to say you have enough for now and you’re going to grow until you come to a deficit,” Russell said.

A report released in 2003 determined that Colorado can meet only 80% of the water needs of the urban growth expected by 2030. Known in the Colorado water business as “the gap”, at least two pipeline projects have been proposed to plug it. Or, alternatively, the water will have to come from farmers.

Increasingly, water managers are starting to speak up, but don’t have any authority over land-use decisions. Colorado lacks legislation requiring development to be linked to water supplies.

“When you start adding it up, where’s the water going to come from for all these home sites?” said Taylor, R-Steamboat Springs.

Others say there’s room – and water – for 3 million new Coloradans. “Colorado can handle that kind of growth, but it is going to come through smart management of our water supply,” said U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar.

Harris Sherman, director of the state Department of Natural Resources, expanded on the idea. “We can handle another 3 million people, but it will involve serious tradeoffs,” Sherman said. Those tradeoffs include a loss of farmland, and less water in the rivers for fish, recreation and scenic beauty. Water managers, counties and the state have to do a better job of helping each other understand the constraints, Sherman said.

“We need to be more realistic about where these future water resources will come from,” he said.

To read the rest of this article from the Durango Herald, click here.

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