People in western Colorado have been talking about how to best use the basin’s limited supply of water for the future, water watchers in the Colorado River Basin discussed Wednesday.

A 2005 state law created basin roundtables, a group of varied water users in each river basin in the state.

Their job is to study the water usage and availability of water in their basin. They are also commissioned to develop proposals to meet future needs in their basin.

Wednesday evening, water users and the public gathered for a Colorado River Basin roundtable discussion to talk about the future for western Colorado’s water.

A state-sponsored water availability study will be completed for the Colorado River Basin by 2010, with initial results coming next year, said Jim Pokrandt, communications manager for the Colorado River District.

The state needs to create a vision where Front Range residents water their bluegrass while Western Slope residents don’t even flinch, said John Redifer, discussion moderator.

“If you really want to prepare for the future, for me, it comes down to storage,” said Steve Ryken, a member of the roundtable.

Jim Carter, vice chairman of the roundtable, said if the water usage becomes market-driven, “most of the water would be moved over to the East Slope.”

Eliminating the state law that now dictates how Colorado allocates its water would create “utter chaos,” said Dick Proctor, manager of the Grand Valley Water Users Association. “It would go to the highest bidder,” and flow to more populated areas.

Eventually, all members the state’s roundtables will discuss the future needs of the entire state, said Pokrandt.

Everyone’s “all shaking hands and making nice, but we’ve all got a sharpened stiletto behind our backs,” getting ready to meet, he said. “They know we’ve got the water.”