Graphics group-Good source for facts and info

Here is a nice list of facts that might be useful to us. It is from the Colorado Watershed Assembly.
their site has even more if you are interested
Water in Colorado

• In Colorado, the Rocky Mountains create the headwaters for 4 regional watersheds that eventually supply water to some 19 Western states. Those 4 regional watersheds are the Arkansas, Colorado, Rio Grande and Missouri (South Platte).
• There are 8 major basins that are designated by the state of Colorado and represented by roundtables: Arkansas Basin, Colorado Basin, Gunnison Basin, Metro and South Platte Basin, North Platte Basin, Rio Grande Basin, Southwest Basin,Yampa/White Basin. Visit the Colorado Water Conservation Board website
• Riparian habitat makes up less than 3% of the land in Colorado, but is used by over 90% of the wildlife in the state.
• Almost 90% of Colorado’s naturally occurring lakes are found at altitudes above 9,000 feet.
• Over 1,300 miles of streams in Colorado are impacted by metals as a result of acid mine drainage.
• There are more than 9,000 miles of streams and 2,000 lakes and reservoirs open to fishing in Colorado.

• 18% of Colorado’s population relies on ground water.Ground water represents only about 17% of all water diverted.

• Colorado Division of Water Resources issues over 8,000 well permits per year (70% domestic).
• In Colorado, water is a separate property right that can be sold separately from the land
• The Prior Appropriation Doctrine entitles those who put water to use first to get their water first during periods of water shortage. In 1879, Colorado established Water Commissioners to distribute water rights in priority based upon principle of“First In Time... First In Right”
• Water deliveries in CO by percent are 86% towards agriculture, 7% municipal/domestic, 3% recreation/fisheries, 2% industrial/commercial, 1% augmentation, 1% recharge. 
• The Colorado Water for the 21st Century Act (2005) creates a collaborative process which establishes structure to deal with how the state addresses its water challenges.  It does so by setting up a framework providing a permanent forum for broad-based water discussions. It creates two new structures: 1. The Interbasin Compact Committee, a state-wide committee addressing issues between basins; and 2. The Basin Roundtables.