Use of the integrative assessment model to examine the benefits and pitfalls of various coping strategies

• Many of the strategies available for water resource managers to cope with stress on the region's water resources (as described in Nichols et al., 2001) will influence other existing water use regimes, and are closely tied to climate variability.
  
• For example, arrangements that provide for temporary water transfers, such as leases, subordination agreements, dry-year options, lease-back arrangements, and water banking, are dependent on climate, and, when used, will affect other water resource managers and users.
  
  The Colorado-Big Thompson project is an example of a water banking system. This figure shows a transfer of ownership from agricultural to municipal use.
  
• As another example, consider wastewater reuse. In order to meet future water demands, Denver Water is currently building a wastewater treatment facility to provide 17,000 acre-feet of additional water for industrial and outdoor use. While this project will increase available water supplies, this comes at the expense of environmental quality, as increased reuse of water will result in a higher concentration of pollutants, particularly during drought periods

We are using the Assessment Model to examine the following coping strategies:

• small-scale and off-stream water storage,
  
• market-based water reallocation,
  
• temporary water transfers,
  
• groundwater development and conjunctive use,
  
• integrated and coordinated operation of water systems,
  
• water use efficiency and wastewater reuse,
  
• conservation and demand management, and
  
• cooperative solutions to environmental problems and endangered species.
  

Model runs are in progress.