Our Mission:

To lead in the protection, conservation, use, and development of the water resources of the Colorado River basin for the welfare of the District, and to safeguard for Colorado all waters of the Colorado River to which the state is entitled.

Water News

Water In The News

Community Funding Partnership

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Board Updates

January 2021 Quarterly Meeting Summary
October 2020 Newsletter
August 2020 Newsletter
July 2020 Newsletter
May 2020 Newsletter
January 2020 Updates And Announcements

Upcoming Events

19oct(oct 19)8:00 am20(oct 20)5:00 pmColorado River District Quarterly Board Meeting

At the Colorado River District we are:

Fighting to keep Water on the Western Slope

Protecting Drinking Water Supply

Keep Water on the Western Slope

Protecting Fish & Wildlife

Ensuring Water Security

Planning for Prolonged Drought

Helping Farmers & Ranchers Increase Efficiency

Water Videos

Browse our gallery for access to more informative videos.

Photo Gallery

Operating and maintaining reservoirs in today’s

Operating and maintaining reservoirs in today’s environmental climate requires cooperation and sometimes complex solutions in order to achieve management goals. In the world of reservoirs, Elkhead may seem small in size, but it is large in management complexity. Next time you find yourself in northwest Colorado looking to do some boating or fishing be sure to visit Elkhead Reservoir.

In 1990 the City of Craig entered into a transfer agreement with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife and acquired the dam and reservoir. Currently after the 2006 enlargement, maintenance and operation is shared between the City of Craig and the Colorado River District, and the recreation facilities are managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
#coloradosgreatnorthwest #elkhead

In response to last week's major debris flow into

In response to last week's major debris flow into the Colorado River, River District staff has worked with with @coloradodot and other partners, including the @USGS and the @midcowatershed, to monitor and assess potential impacts to downstream users with respect to water quality and quantity. Furthermore, the Colorado River District is coordinating efforts with these partners to determine appropriate remedial actions.
#mudslides #I70 #coloradoriver #collaboration #watermonitoring #glenwoodcanyon

Water Wednesday is brought to you by National Geog

Water Wednesday is brought to you by National Geographic and the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies in Durango. In an article published by Nat Geo on July 14th, Hydrologist Jeff Derry explains why it is important that dust from the Chihuahuan Desert ended up on the peaks of the Elk Mountains this year.

"The dirt acts like a blanket; the snowpack, no longer white, absorbs heat from the sun. Evaporation from early runoff also robs the Colorado of 250 billion gallons of water each year—enough to supply the Los Angeles region for more than 12 months."
#snowmelt #waterwednesday

Water with Your Lunch is back! On August 5th, joi

Water with Your Lunch is back!

On August 5th, join the River District for a free, lunch-hour Zoom webinar focusing on rapidly declining water levels in Lake Powell and on the impacts of prolonged drought on West Slope water users.

Lake Powell has been making the news a lot lately with sobering photos and headlines. This webinar will provide an opportunity for participants to learn more about this Basin-wide issue and how we got to this point. Three expert panelists will discuss their views on current conditions and possible future pathways for Colorado River water users.

Registration required, visit our website and click on 'Water News' to learn more and sign up. #waterwithyourlunch

Senior rights. Inflow. Acre-feet. TMDs. Beneficial

Senior rights. Inflow. Acre-feet. TMDs. Beneficial use. Need a Colorado water terminology refresher to stay 'current' in the conversation?

As the headlines heat up with water-related news, check out the Colorado River District's Education pages at coloradoriverdistrict.org to find water 101 info and other resources developed to help anyone engage with discussions about water on the West Slope. Link in bio.

The Colorado River District employs a team of lega

The Colorado River District employs a team of legal experts to advocate for West Slope water users.

The Colorado River District is working to protect

The Colorado River District is working to protect West Slope water by helping farmers and ranchers modernize irrigation systems.

The Colorado River District is working to protect

The Colorado River District is working to protect West Slope water and keep it on the Western Slope.

The Colorado River District is working to protect

The Colorado River District is working to protect West Slope water amid increasing unpredictability, long-term drought and rising temperatures.

Happy Independence Day! We hope you have a fun and

Happy Independence Day! We hope you have a fun and safe celebration.

Our water is our future. The Colorado River Distri

Our water is our future. The Colorado River District is working to ensure water security for future generations on the Western Slope.

WATER WEDNESDAY: As the West Slope works to recove

WATER WEDNESDAY: As the West Slope works to recover from last summer's wildfires, new fires are already burning across Western Colorado. Wildfires on the Western Slope can impact your water quality and increase the likelihood of flash floods and sediment slides. Be prepared, and sign up for emergency alerts in your county to be aware of incidents impacting your area.
📸 Muddy Slide Fire from Wolford Mountain Reservoir

WATER WEDNESDAY: The Shoshone Hydropower Plant hol

WATER WEDNESDAY: The Shoshone Hydropower Plant holds one of the most senior water rights on the Colorado River, predating transbasin diversions to the Front Range. Because of the plant’s location seven miles east of Glenwood Springs, that senior water right keeps flows in the river for more than 150 miles. Whether it's for irrigation or river recreation, we all benefit from more river flows winding westward!
📸 Shoshone Hydropower Plant, via Library of Congress

The Colorado River District is fighting to protect

The Colorado River District is fighting to protect West Slope water and keep it on the Western Slope.

We're working to keep rivers flowing for the fish

We're working to keep rivers flowing for the fish and wildlife that depend on them in Western Colorado.

We're working to protect our water supplies to kee

We're working to protect our water supplies to keep clean drinking water flowing to West Slope communities.

The Western Slope is facing increasingly unpredict

The Western Slope is facing increasingly unpredictable water supplies amid rising temperatures. We're working to secure our West Slope water amid increasingly frequent drought.

The Colorado River District is working to sustain

The Colorado River District is working to sustain the flows West Slope farmers and ranchers need to keep growing the food and fiber we all rely on.

The Colorado River District is working to protect

The Colorado River District is working to protect West Slope water supplies in times of increasing uncertainty and rising temperatures.

The Colorado River District is working to protect

The Colorado River District is working to protect our West Slope water and keep it on the Western Slope.

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