Frequently Asked Questions
We’re here to answer any questions you may have about the Colorado River District. If you don’t find what you need feel free to contact us
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- Wolford Mountain Reservoir
Maybell Ditch Company; Maybell Ditch Breach Repair – $24,097
On August 12, 2024, the Maybell Ditch experienced a significant ditch breach that rendered the ditch inoperable. The breach blew out two headgates, eroded the ditch bank (35 feet deep; 100 feet wide; 400 feet long), and washed loads of sediment on private fields. The Ditch company hired a contractor to repair the ditch and headgates – work was completed by September 2nd and irrigation was reinitiated. The remaining reclamation efforts will be completed in 2025 by the Ditch Company. The Maybell Ditch serves 18 water users and is one of the largest irrigators in the Yampa Basin, with a decreed flow 129cfs.
Town of Rangely; Rangely River Intake Turbidmeter – $8,290
The Lee/Elk fires in Rio Blanco County has caused extensive impacts to the water quality of the White River. Rangely relies on the White River for their municipal water supply. The declined water quality has increased the turbidity levels and containment levels in the River. To accommodate to these water quality issues, the Town of Rangely is installing a Turbidmeter to allow the system’s pumps to shut down when the levels rise above feasible levels to process in the existing system. The equipment will reduce filtration maintenance and ensure the longevity of the water treatment plant.
City of Grand Junction; Juniata Enlarged Ditch Piping/Lining Project – $25,000
The grantee is completing engineering and design to pipe or line 2.3 miles of the Juniata Enlarged Ditch. The project aims to address a 30% seepage rate to ensure sustainable water to the water users. The City of Grand Junction and 40 agricultural users depend on the ditch to transport water from Kannah Creek to Juniata Reservoir. Through recently modeling, the City is expecting to see a shortfall in water by 2045 and is looking for efficiency opportunities to adapt the City to a hotter and drier climate.
Bear River Reservoir Company; Stillwater Reservoir Drain, Collar, and Channel – $123,000
Stillwater Reservoir, located at the headwaters of the Bear River in Routt and Garfield Counties, is currently under a fill restriction due to seepage in the left abutment. The reservoir serves 98% agricultural users, a total of 19 ditches, on the Bear River to supply late-season irrigation water. Since the restriction was set in 2019, the Bear River Reservoir Company has taken incremental steps towards repairing the reservoir to ensure its operation. In 2022, the Colorado River District Board approved a $125,000 award to complete the first phase of work to remove the fill restriction. This included the engineering to repair the abutments and complete construction of the replacement of the outlet infrastructure. The final engineering completed proposes constructing a downstream blanket drain to serve as the filtered exit for the seepage in the left abutment, install a filter collar to prevent possible erosion, and stabilize the river channel below the dam.
Western Slope Conservation Center; North Fork and Smith Fork of the Gunnison Wildfire Ready Action Plan – $50,000
Communities of the North Fork Valley are undertaking a Wildfire Ready Watershed, Wildfire Ready Action Plan, spearheaded by Western Slope Conservation Center (WSCC) with support from other stakeholders. The North Fork and Smith Fork WRAP is composed of local, state, and federal entities as well as private landowners, nonprofit organizations, municipalities, fire districts, agricultural water districts, and domestic water companies. The goals for the North Fork and Smith Fork, WRAP are to: identify values at risk to post-fire conditions; gather and identify relevant data, complete a data- gap analysis; identify and analyze hazards; analyze value susceptibility; and create a pre-fire and post-fire action plan to mitigate hazards and reduce susceptibility. The final goal is to use the WRAP to prioritize funding needs and future projects for protection of at-risk assets from wildfires and enhancement of watershed health.
Our main office is are located at 201 Centennial Street, Suite 200 in Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 Map
Wolford Mountain Reservoir operations office is located at 27219 U.S. Highway 40, Kremmling, CO 80459
The Colorado River Water Conservation District (River District) was created by the Colorado General Assembly in 1937. The River District provides legal and political representation for Western Colorado water interests. It also develops and assists others with the development of Western Colorado’s water resources. In general, the River District can appropriate water rights, litigate water matters, enter into contracts, operate projects and perform other functions as needed to meet the present and future water needs of the District.
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.
The River District’s General Fund is funded by a property tax within the 15 Western Colorado counties we serve. Revenues for the River District’s Enterprise activities are primarily based on water sales, lease revenues and investment interest earnings.
Board meeting notices and agendas are posted at least twenty-four hours prior to a meeting and held the third Tuesday of the months of Jan., April, July and Oct.
River District Directors are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners of each county in the district and serve a three year term. Find your county representative.
Construction of the reservoir was completed in May 1995.
Numerous activities are available, such as fishing, ice fishing, hiking, camping and boating.
Yes, both camping spots and RV hook ups are available. In the summer months, reservations are recommended.
Rainbow trout, cutbow trout and splake.
You can find more information about funding here
The minimum amount of contract water is 0.1 acre-foot annually. Please visit lease water for the maximum amount available.
Charges vary depending on the water source (i.e., Colorado River water versus Eagle River water). Visit lease water for current pricing. Standard application fee $400 and $800 if River District is required to file a Statement of Opposition.
We offer Interim contracts for periods of 5 years or less and Full Term contracts for more than 5 years to a maximum of 40 years. Full Term contracts have a right to renew option for an additional 35 years.
The River District sells water from its reserves (developed or previously purchased). The water comes from Eagle Park Reservoir, Ruedi Reservoir and the District’s Wolford Mountain Reservoir. For a summary and description of the water rights held by the River District, please visit lease water.
Visit lease water to access the application and instructions.
Colorado State Statutes may be found at LexisNexis. For current legislative activities concerning Colorado water issues visit Colorado General Assembly.
Legislative Updates
Visit “The Prior Appropriation System”
Our website has many resources internally as well as links to outside water agencies that provide information on key Colorado water issues such as Transmountain Diversions, Water Quality and Colorado Compact issues.