1. 1 Water Conservation What Do We Really Want? Four States Irrigation Council 63 rd Annual Meeting January 14 th, 2016 Joe Frank, Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District

2. Conservation: the careful use of natural resources to prevent them from being lost or wasted. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conservation)

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5. 5 South Platte River Compact Signed by CO Governor Clarence J. Morley in 1925 Signed by CO and NE in 1923

6. 6 Nature of return flows in the South Platte Prior to surface irrigation “The flow was excessive in May and June and disappeared entirely during the summer. The river frequently became dry for months of each year to points as far west as the present city of Fort Morgan.” – Prior to surface irrigation. After surface irrigation development “The flow of return and seepage waters coming back to the river from irrigation of Colorado lands, has resulted in a constant supply at the interstate line.” – After surface irrigation development. “ The once “disappearing” flood stream has been converted into one of constant flow making possible the development in both states.” Delph Carpenter, 1925 letter to CO Governor

7. Ditch and Reservoir Service Areas  Supplies  1.4 million AF annual native flow for total basin  400,000 AF generated from transbasin projects  Use  600,000 AF tributary groundwater used  Total annual surface water diversions: 4 million AF

8. 8 Augmentation Plan Service Areas

9. How do we meet the Gap?

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12. 2050 Gap Existing Supply 12 *Based on SWSI 2010 Medium Water Demands

13. 88% success rate for Metro IPPs 65% success rate for South Platte IPPs Modified IPP Success Rates

15. Supply-Demand Gap Colorado’s Water Plan sets a measurable objective of reducing the projected 2050 municipal and industrial gap from as much as 560,000 acre-feet to zero acre-feet by 2030.

16. Conservation Colorado’s Water Plan sets a measurable objective to achieve 400,000 acre-feet of municipal and industrial water conservation by 2050. Land use Colorado’s Water Plan sets a measurable objective that by 2025, 75 percent of Coloradans will live in communities that have incorporated water-saving actions into land-use planning.

17. Agriculture Colorado’s Water Plan sets an objective that agricultural economic productivity will keep pace with growing state, national, and global needs, even if some acres go out of production.

18. What Do We Really Want?