The waters of Western Colorado face constant political, legal, cultural and natural challenges and events that affect the quality and quantity of this most vital natural resource.
The River District works on behalf of its nearly half-million constituents to monitor these happenings and to protect the interests of this region. This section of the website provides studies and reports regarding major issues that are shaping Western Colorado’s water outlook and can be downloaded or received by request.
Upper Basin Demand Management Economic Study in Western Colorado
Colorado River Risk Study
Colorado River Water Bank Feasibility Study Phase 2B (2015)
- Qualitative assessment and summary in three ditch systems
- Grand Valley Project
- Uncompahgre Valley Water Users’ Association
- Doctor Morrison Ditch System
Aspects of the Yampa River Flow Regine Essential for Maintenance of Native Fishes (2015)
- Colorado River basin and fishes
- Colorado pikeminnow distribution and life history
- Importance of the Yampa River
- Yampa River fish and flow relationships studies
Energy Development Water Needs Assessment Update Phase III Final Report (2014)
- The Water Supply Planning Process
- Oil Shale Process Water Demands
- Water Use Scenarios for Oil Shale Development
- Groundwater
- Water Supply Project Alternatives
Colorado Dust on Snow WY Summary (2014)
- Snowpack (SWE)
- Dust-on-snow intensity
- Spring weather
- And their combined impacts on spring 2014 snowmelt runoff
Colorado River Water Bank Feasibility Study Phase 2 (2013)
- Candidate System Screening Criteria
- Test Case System Evaluations
- Operational Scenarios and Criteria
Colorado River Water Bank Feasibility Study Phase 1 (2012)
- Project Scope of Work
- Potential Magnitude and Frequency of Water Bank Need
- Water Bank Supply-Use Scenarios
Colorado River Basin Supply & Demand (2012)
- Projected Future Water Supply and Demand
- Options and Strategies to Resolve Supply and Demand 11Imbalances
- Evaluation of Options and Strategies to Resolve Supply 17 and Demand Imbalances
Colorado River Water Availability Study Report – Final (2012)
- Technical results
- Study processes
- Utilization of Phase I Results
- Future Analysis
Aspinall Unit Operations Environmental Impact Statement (2012)
- Purpose of and Need for the Action
- Proposed Action and Alternatives
- Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
- Environmental Commitments and Mitigation
- Consultation and Coordination
Statewide Water Supply Initiative – Colorado’s Water Supply Future (2010)
- Nonconsumptive Needs Assessments
- Nonconsumptive Projects and Methods
- Consumptive Needs Assessments
- Consumptive Projects and Methods and the M&I Gap
- Water Availability
- Portfolios and Strategies to Address the M&I Gap
Colorado River Basin Tamarisk and Russian Olive Assessment (2009)
- Evapotranspiration by Riparian Vegetation
- TRO Management – state-of-the-science
- Programmatic Issues and Economics of TRO Management
- Demonstration Sites
Climate Change in Colorado (2008)
The report is an assessment of Colorado climate change authored by scientists at NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory, the University of Colorado at Boulder and Colorado State University.
The CU-NOAA Western Water Assessment was produced for state water planners and provides scientific information on temperature, precipitation, snowmelt, and runoff for Colorado.
Phase II Upper Colorado River Study Executive Summary (1998)
- Upper Colorado River In-Basin Water Needs
- Study Results
- PACSM Analysis Results
- Impacts of 2002-2003 Drought
- Next Steps
