Report Analyzes Agriculture’s Effect on Urban West’s Water Supply

By Chris Jackson, 4-10-07

Water is a scarce resource in the West, and allocation of that resource is a source of dispute throughout the region.  As forces of change affect the Rockies, namely prolonged drought and rapid population growth, it is likely that the current distribution regime will also change.  The 2007 State of the Rockies Project, a faculty and undergraduate collaborative research initiative sponsored by Colorado College, explores national and regional water use trends, and examines the affects of agriculture to urban water transfers.

Water use in the Rockies is dominated by irrigation—87 percent of total use compared to 34 percent nationally.  As the Rockies Region’s population continues to grow, to the tune of 9% from 2000 to 2005—4.5 times the national growth rate, demands on public supply use will also grow.  From 1985 to 2000, public supply withdrawals in this region grew 45 percent.  The majority of growth in public supply use occurs in Rockies metropolitan centers, as 83% of the region resides in urban areas.  Given the current water situation in the West, what is the role of agricultural to urban water transfers, and what are the implications on small farms and surrounding communities?

These questions are addressed in the 2007 State of the Rockies Report Card.  Click here to read a PDF of the the full version of the water sustainability section of the report, and we encourage you to further the discussion and engage in thoughtful dialog on water in the West.