Scientific Theme: Advanced Modeling and Observing Systems

Scientific Theme: Integrating Activities
ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR WWA01.2:
In the last year, interviews with Denver, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (NCWCD), and
Westminster were held. Interviews with the other three cities are currently being scheduled. Information gathered
during these interviews is being added to a report describing the annual and long-term decision processes and uses
and needs for climate information by these cities. This information will be useful for other WWA researchers who
need background information about these cities. Three articles have been outlined that will be submitted for
publication with conclusions from all six cities. These articles are intended for three audiences: water managers,
climate information providers, and the Water Resources Research journal. These articles will examine ways that
Front Range water managers use climate information, ways that they could use information that they do not
currently use, the reasons that some information is more useful than other information, and how climate information
can be presented to make it more useful.
MILESTONE WWA01.3:
Current and Future Water Demand at a Major Front Range City. This task will investigate the
many forces that impact water demand at a major Denver suburb, Aurora, with infrastructure
requirements over the next ten years in excess of $1B. A literature review on water demand will
be created. How the recent drought, climate variables, demographics, pricing, irrigation
technology, in-home water meters and other variables affect demand will also be studied.
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR WWA01.3:
A website, as well as several papers and presentations about water demand in Aurora, CO, were produced.
Web Related: Created new Water Demand and Conservation site:
http://wwa.colorado.edu/resources/water_demand_and_conservation/.
Publications/White Papers:
Residential Water Demand Management in Aurora: Lessons from the Drought Crisis, Colorado Water.
Factors Influencing Residential Water Demand: A Review of the Literature. White Paper.
Presentations
Managing Residential Water Demand: Lessons from Aurora. Presented as part of the Center for Science
and Technology Policy Research (CSTPR) seminar series., March 13, 2007,
Behavioral and Econometric Lessons from Urban Water Demand under Extreme Drought: Focus on
Aurora, Colorado. Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics & Department of Economics U.S.
Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Spring 2007 Seminar Series. February 16, 2007.
MILESTONE WWA01.4:
Colorado Meteorological Station Data long-term trends. In conjunction with the Colorado State
Climatologist’s office, evaluate all suitable stations in Colorado for long-term precipitation and
temperature trends.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR WWA01.4:
A preliminary assessment of long-term precipitation and temperature trends has been completed. These results have
been presented at several venues, including the Water Availability Task Force and the WWA Climate Change
Conference held in Golden, in December of 2006.
MILESTONE WWA01.5:
IPCC AR4 Model Suitability for Colorado. Investigate value of recent AR4 model run data for use
by Denver Water and others.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR WWA01.5:
This project was put on hold during FY07, but work is now in progress.
MILESTONE WWA01.6:
Streamflow Variability. In parallel with ongoing NSF effort, we will investigate apparent tendencies
for Western rivers to show increasing variability and synchroneity.
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