Colorado Water
The Front Range won't be able to look to the Colorado and Gunnison river basins to solve water needs, according to the Rocky Mountain News [May 1, 2004, "Water study: No easy fix"]. From the article, "For the past 11 months, the state has been collecting data in each of Colorado's eight major river basins, looking at how much water each basin has available, how much demand is likely to grow by 2030 and how that new thirst can be quenched. The study, whose final results will be published in November, is being watched closely in part because it is the first time a statewide analysis of each river basin has been conducted. It also comes at a time when the drought and population growth have strained existing supplies and jump-started a massive effort by Colorado's urban areas to find new water sources. But even as the study moves forward, there is deep skepticism statewide of the entire process. Almost all agree, however, that bringing everyone to the table will prove helpful. On the Western Slope, environmentalists and ranchers are concerned that the final report will simply open the door - once again - to more urban water development projects. In Montrose, Paonia, Ouray and Delta, such undertakings are known simply as water raids. Locals monitoring the study process are deeply worried the state is seeking the water data only to lay the groundwork for a massive state-backed water project."
Watering restrictions start today in Denver and many cities across Colorado. The Rocky is reporting that snowfall in the South Platte basin is at 80% of normal, up from 68% at the start of April.
8:04:22 AM 
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