Support M&I

In the figure below, highlight or click the individual boxes to see the specific MI stakeholder responses provided for the question "What is your biggest concern about water in the Yampa Basin?" Note that a single response may be included in multiple categories (ie: one respondent is concerned about both water quality and climate change).

M&I is primarily concerned with protecting water quality. In particular, temperature and Nitrogen/Phosphorus in the Steamboat Springs area and increasingly stringent wastewater effluent regulations were mentioned.

• Secondary concerns focus on broader supply availability issues related to tougher administration, climate change and downstream demands/compact concerns.

• M&I users generally do not have shortages, and if they do they do not experience large impacts. When asked “Does your facility have plans for adjusting to yearly water variability?” only the larger districts and towns (Upper Yampa, Mt. Werner, Steamboat) said yes. There appears to be a lack of planning for a hydrology future that is different than today.

• Municipal water providers are concerned about watershed health related to flows and water quality

• Other concerns listed that are not as broadly held include: increased public use of rivers; more stringent wastewater regulations; and water body setbacks and development in the floodplain.

The following opportunities were identified by either stakeholders themselves, or by a member of the IWMP team that conducted stakeholder outreach. This is not an exhaustive list, and there is a space for your ideas on the Opportunities Summary page.

8 Water quality reporting and advocacy

Improve/invest in basin’s capacity to monitor and collect data, regularly report and share data, advocate to CDPHE, etc.

9. Planning for future shortages in smaller districts/towns

Explore whether municipal suppliers, especially smaller water districts, are prepared to meet demands in a drier future, and help rural water providers and well owners better understand risks.

10 Promote efficient water use

Support campaigns and trainings for M&I and Ag users to adopt water efficiency measures