Policies | Colorado River Water Conservation District

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Aging Infrastructure (this policy superseded by the “Funding: Water Infrastructure and Programs” policy)

July 21, 2020
The Colorado River District supports federal and state appropriations and programs that support and encourage investment in capital maintenance, including extraordinary maintenance, to address and maintain – and upgrade where possible – the full function and benefit of Colorado’s aging water infrastructure.

Agricultural Water Use

April 20, 2021
The Colorado River District supports and promotes Western Colorado agriculture and will partner with agricultural interests to ensure a vibrant agriculture sector in Western Colorado. (policy as .pdf)

Colorado’s Entitlement to Colorado River Basin Water (this policy superseded by the “Colorado River Compacts and Entitlements” policy)

July 21, 2020
The Colorado River District supports and will remain involved in statewide efforts to better determine Colorado`s current use and remaining development potential of its Colorado River compact entitlement.

Colorado River Compacts and Entitlements

July 21, 2020
The Colorado River Compacts of 1922 and 1948 must be enforced, protected and defended from legal challenge or amendment unless all seven basin states agree to the terms of any proposed change. (policy as .pdf)

Colorado River Storage Project Act

April 20, 2021
The Colorado River District supports the development of authorized and participating projects under the Colorado River Storage Project Act wherever economically, hydrologically, and environmentally feasible. (policy as .pdf)

Colorado Water Plan

July 21, 2015
The Colorado River District believes the Colorado Water Plan can contribute positively to the protection, development, and stewardship of Colorado’s water resources. (policy as .pdf)

Colorado’s Prior Appropriation Doctrine

April 20, 2021
The Colorado River District supports Colorado’s system of prior appropriation as a fair and orderly system for allocating Colorado’s scarce water resources. (policy as .pdf)

Endangered Species Act

April 16, 2019
Congress should reauthorize the Endangered Species Act and amend provisions of the Act to provide for better implementation that focuses on species recovery, encourages and rewards constructive and meaningful partnerships with non-federal parties, and respects private property rights including water rights. (policy as.pdf)

Federal Water Rights

April 20, 2021
The policy of the Colorado River District is that when the Congress or the President creates special federal land designations, such designations must clearly and explicitly specify and quantify the minimum amount, if any, of water necessary to fulfill the purpose of the land reservation. (policy as .pdf)

Funding: Water Infrastructure and Programs

July 21, 2020
The Colorado River District believes all state water-related projects and programs should be evaluated, prioritized and funded on a common and consistent basis (i.e., eliminate the current, uncertain and erratic Tier II funding category). (policy as .pdf)

Instream Flows

July 17, 2018
The Colorado River District recognizes and supports the environmental and human benefits of flowing rivers and streams. The values and benefits of instream flows, however, must be balanced with the need for consumptive water uses in an arid West. (policy as .pdf)

Interstate Water Marketing

July 21, 2020
The Colorado River District opposes any proposal to market Colorado River water between the states of the Upper Colorado River Basin and Lower Colorado River Basin without the unanimous consent of all seven states. (policy as .pdf)

Multi-Benefit Water Projects Policy

October 20, 2021
As western Colorado’s water supply is increasingly impacted by new demands and a changing climate, the River District recognizes that it must prioritize multi-benefit water projects that serve to protect our region’s water security. (policy as .pdf)

Public Records Policy and Fee Schedule

July 1, 2014
The public records of the River District are available for review at the River District’s office during normal business hours. Any individual or organization wishing to review River District records should provide written notice three days in advance. The River District may deny access to certain public records consistent with C.R.S. §24-72-204 and other applicable law. (policy as .pdf)

Recreational Water Use

April 16, 2019
The Colorado River District supports recreational water uses and the water rights that confirm recreational water uses that balance recreational needs with historical and future consumptive water uses, including water use by exchange and that do not adversely impact the ability to fully develop for beneficial use Colorado’s entitlements under the Compacts of 1922 and 1948 within the River District. (policy as .pdf)

Speculation in Water Resources

July 21, 2021
The River District opposes speculation in Colorado’s water resources where the purported speculator does not have a specific plan to put water to use for legitimate beneficial purposes, and particularly where an interest in water is pursued primarily to secure a financial profit. (policy as .pdf)

Transmountain Water Diversions

July 21, 2020
The River District will advocate that the transmountain diverted waters be efficiently used and fully reused to extinction and ensure that mitigation conditions on existing transmountain diversion projects are honored and upheld. (policy as .pdf)

Upper Colorado River Recovery Program

July 20, 2021
The Colorado River District supports the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and its dual purpose of recovering fish species listed as endangered while allowing historical water use and water development to continue consistent with state law and Colorado’s entitlements under the Colorado River Compacts. (policy as .pdf)

Water Marketing for Wolford Mountain Reservoir

January 15, 2019
The Colorado River District and the Colorado River Water Projects Enterprise is authorized and directed to provide for the beneficial use of water available for use from the Enterprise’s storage capacity in Wolford Mountain Reservoir and other sources of supply such as Eagle Park Reservoir. (policy as .pdf )

Water Marketing for the Yampa River

Water Quality

July 16, 2019
The Colorado River District`s primary objective with respect to water quality is to protect the ability of the district’s residents to use water beneficially now and in the future. (policy as .pdf)