Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today welcomed the Bureau of Reclamation’s Colorado River Supply and Demand Study, which projects water supply and demand imbalances throughout the Colorado River Basin and adjacent areas over the next 50 years. The report includes various possible strategies to address the projected imbalances.

“The Colorado River is a lifeline for our state and for states throughout the west,” Bennet said. “The water it supplies is a precious resource for families in Colorado and the industries that drive our economy. Today’s report makes clear that a growing population and a changing climate will put additional stresses on the River in the coming years.  The study clearly illustrates the need for federal and state leaders to come together and develop a comprehensive strategy to manage the water supply. We should commend Secretary Salazar, the Bureau of Reclamation and the seven basin states for their work.”

The comprehensive study, initiated under the SECURE Water Act of 2009 and jointly funded and prepared by the Bureau of Reclamation and the seven basin states, provides new scientific data and includes a range of proposals from stakeholders to reduce the projected supply and demand gaps.

Earlier this year, Bennet praised the signing of the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, which was signed by several Colorado counties and utility providers to establish the cooperative, long-term efforts to improve the health of the Colorado River and its tributaries in Colorado.