Exercise 5 (Part 1)

Water Resources Management in Boulder

Student name:______

TA name:______

Part 1: Collect the Basic Information

Introduction: Contemporary natural resource managers, especially those operating in areas with large public involvement like forestry, water resources, or energy, must practice “integrated” management. They are involved in all aspects of the resources, from acquisition of supply, supply management (e.g., yield management and monitoring, storage and conveyance), demand management, impact assessment and mitigation, and long-term planning. Even where a private company supplies the resource (like natural gas or water), standard practice in the U.S. has been that the supplier operates as a public utility, with strong government oversight and regulated business practices, including allocation and pricing.

Instructions: In this two-part exercise you become the water resource planner/manager for Boulder, Colo. The first step is to collect basic facts, by tracking down answers to the following questions. This is a two-week exercise: answer the questions below and bring this sheet to recitation (October 19-23) ready to take part in a water planning exercise. For this part you may simply hand write short answers on a hard copy of this sheet. To receive a grade on this exercise you must present this part filled out at recitation October 19-23 (Week 9).

You can find information on Boulder’s water resources system on the city’s utilities WebPages:

You can learn a lot about Boulder’s water resources management, and how they deal with environmental uncertainty, by reading its “Drought Plan”:

A local hydrological consulting firm has played a role in Boulder’s water management planning:

A local NGO has studied city systems around the region, and made recommendations especially on price structures:

I. Supply Management:

Where does Boulder’s water come from physically? (What watersheds?)

How and where does Boulder store and treat its supply?

Knowing what you already do about human intervention in the hydrological cycle, give at least two likely environmental impacts of this water system:

Suggest at least one social impact of the water system:

II. Demand Management:

How is Boulder’s water used?

What tools and procedures does Boulder use to manage demand for water in the system? (You should be able to list several ways that managers seek to increase water conservation and efficient use):

What do managers do in addition to the above when drought conditions hit?

What does Boulder do to educate for demand management?

III. Environmental Impacts and Mitigation

Give an example of how Boulder attempts to mitigate the negative impacts or “externalities” of its water system?

Environmental impacts:

Social externalities:

Make a list of as many “stakeholders” you can think of who have a role to play, or something at risk, in boulder’s water resources system: