Evolution of transmountain water diversions in Colorado
Date
2001-06
Authors
Thaemert, David K., author
Faucett, Andrea H., author
U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, publisher
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Abstract
Trans-basin water diversions exist all along Colorado's Front Range, constructed to provide increased reliability of water supplies. Subsequent experience with water yields has pointed out the advantages of trans-basin diversions both in firm yields and in the ability to repeatedly utilize imported water to exhaustion. Four river systems (Rio Grande, Arkansas, Platte, and Colorado) originate within Colorado. The first three of these rivers receive trans-basin diversion water from the Colorado River basin, with some diversions between adjacent pairs of those basins. Front Range urbanization has been facilitated by the availability of large, reliable water supplies from trans-basin diversions. The relative ease of change-of-use, coupled with the ability to use supplies to exhaustion, have made trans-basin diversion projects prime targets for land developers in search of water supplies. Virtually all of the existing trans-basin projects have seen shifts of first use yields from commodity-based industries to municipal water supplies. These shifts have been accompanied by changes in seasonal usage patterns, and increases in unit value of the water resource, thus favoring further investment in trans-basin diversion infrastructure to improve both reliability and ease of operation. Future trends would indicate increased conversion of trans-basin diversions to municipal supply as first use. Further water wars can also be expected as new projects are sought to respond to Front Range municipal thirst. Any improvements to existing projects would likely further physically stabilize the source environment and improve operational characteristics. New proposals for trans-basin diversions will face substantial challenges from compact restrictions and environmental concerns in basins of origin. The net result will be growing economic pressures for change of use and physical improvements to existing trans-basin diversions.
Description
Presented at the 2001 USCID water management conference, Transbasin water transfers on June 27-30, 2001 in Denver, Colorado.