Cities have long dictated water policy, even as river recreation represents a growing segment of the state’s economy.
Category: Water
Reporting on water and rivers in the Roaring Fork and upper Colorado river basins.
Posted inWater
Ruedi Reservoir at lowest level in two decades
Something that may influence if and how Ruedi fills this year is a phenomenon called the “April hole.”
Posted inWater
Lake Powell to dip below target elevation
As this angered some in Colorado, and the amount of water is proving to be the proverbial drop in the bucket, questions of the impact of the releases and were they worth it generate debate.
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Turf replacement bill gains ground
The drafters of House Bill 1151 say it is aimed at efficient water use and would increase communities’ resilience to drought and climate change, reduce the sale of agriculture water rights to meet increased demand in cities, and protect river flows.
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Rancher grapples with abandonment listing
Some water rights holders may be reluctant to pare back the amount of their right, even if they can’t use all the water to which their decree entitles them on paper.
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Groups try again to secure water for recreation
The proposal is an attempt to carve out a spot for — and recognize the importance of — Colorado’s outdoor-recreation economy in the hierarchy of water uses, which prioritizes the oldest water rights, usually belonging to agriculture and cities.
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Kremmling rancher picked to replace Schwartz on state water board
Schwartz said that although it was an honor to hold the seat, she felt she couldn’t be as effective as she wanted in the position.
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Popular ditch inventories remain private despite being publicly funded
But neither the CWCB nor the Colorado Basin Roundtable has a policy that allows the public to have access to the inventories, even when public money is used to fund their creation.
Posted inWater
River District addresses controversial water speculation bill
The River District’s amendment is an attempt to revise the current proposed legislation, which has not found support from agricultural water users.
Posted inWater
State water education campaign focuses on individual actions
And although the agriculture industry represents 86% of the state’s water use, according to numbers provided by Water Education Colorado, Water ’22 does not include ways for agriculture to conserve water.