Watersheds, Trans-Mountain Diversions and the Future of Water in Colorado

1. Watersheds, Trans-Mountain Diversions and the Future of Water in Colorado Roaring Fork River at Lost Man Canal, above where Lost Man Creek used to come in…

2. Where’s the Water? – Precipitation Precipitation falls most heavily in the blue-shaded areas. The darker the color, the more moisture the area receives.

4. New DiversionsWindy Gap, Moffat and more • 64% of the Colorado River above Kremmling is diverted to the Front Range. • Windy Gap Firming – could divert an additional 28,000 af • Moffat Expansion – could divert an additional 18,000 af • Green Mountain Pump-back & Wolcott Reservoir • Denver Could divert twice as much from Dillon • PSOP would take more from the Eagle and Roaring Fork • Expansion of Fry-Ark – Lime and Last Chance Creeks The Front Range looks to West Slope diversions as a first option for more water

5. Cumulative Impact of Diversions on the Upper Colorado River from Moffat & C-BT 1905 1994

6. The Real consequences of increased diversions Degraded water quality Higher, even lethal temperatures Flat-lined river Permanent drought conditions An ecosystem close to collapse Harms the West Slope economy Reduced flows in the Fraser, Colorado, Williams Fork and Blue Rivers. (upper Colorado during “runoff”, 2004)

7. Growth600,000 acre feet additional water needed by 2050 Colorado Population Today – 5,000,000 Expected to double by 2050 – 10,000,000 Most along the East Slope Still substantial growth on the West Slope

8. Energy Development

9. Loveland Pass snow-pack April, 2002 Upper Roaring Fork, 2002 Climate Change Expect warmer, drier conditions Less snow, more rain – up to 30% less runoff By 2050 Colorado River flow could decline by 18% Average Basin water storage could decline by 32% Increased water demands from Agriculture and Municipal users

10. Are bigger, grander diversions the answer? • “The US has, on average, built one dam a day since the Declaration of Independence” – Bruce Babbitt • Engineering alone will not get us out of a simple lack of water. • Risk of triggering a Compact Call Aaron Million’s proposed pipeline from the Green River in Wyoming to the Front Range

11. Environmental and Recreational water needs are just as important to Colorado as other needs Non-Consumptive Water Needs are difficult to identify and quantify Minimum In-Stream Flows are often junior or insufficient Human needs are much more flexible and adaptable to stress Environmental and Recreational water are key economic drivers

12. We need a new Water Paradigm for Colorado • How much water do we really have, now and for all future needs? • Does a 19th century system still work in the 21st century? • What are the real cumulative impacts from diversions and depletions? • What do we need to do to keep Colorado environmentally and economically healthy • Who decides?

13. If we want to truly affect the future we need to act now. Business as usual won’t work. Keep Informed, Stay Engaged! Support the Roaring Fork Watershed Plan Go to the Roaring Fork Conservancy Website for more information www.roaringfork.org