Colorado has a water plan.

Our water security is at a tipping point. It’s on us to meet the urgency of the moment.

Water plan 101

Less water means lower snowpack means drier soil means fewer crops means businesses suffer, and so on. Everyone in Colorado is affected by water.

The Colorado Water Plan informs how we’ll manage Colorado’s water strategically so we can go beyond just meeting our state’s water needs. It identifies what needs doing and how to do it while meeting critical commitments and upholding three core values:

1

A productive economy that supports vibrant and sustainable cities, viable and productive agriculture, and a robust skiing, recreation and tourism industry;

2

Efficient and effective water infrastructure promoting smart land use, and

3

A strong environment that includes healthy watershed, rivers and streams, and wildlife.

From scarcity to security

The plan is a roadmap to positively affect local economies, community resiliency, and ecosystem health. Here’s how.

Environment

Improved forest mortality, water quality impairments, and flood mitigation and recovery will help cement a strong Colorado environment, which is critical to the economy and way of life.

Outdoor recreation

Stream and watershed management plans protect important ecosystems like aquatic populations and wild lands, keeping our local and destination recreation healthy.

Agriculture

Greater water security for family farms and fixing leaky infrastructure are just a couple of ways the plan helps ensure our agricultural economy can keep pace with growing needs while also maintaining a valued way of life.

Communities

Water is an essential part of Colorado’s economy and communities across the state depend on this resource to thrive. Businesses across the state are working to protect water for the wellbeing of our local economies and quality of life.

Business

River related recreation in Colorado is a major economic driver with nearly $19 billion in overall economic output. Thriving economies and healthy ecosystems means keeping our rivers healthy and accessible for all.

Colorado water is personal

Let’s have ourselves a resilient water-filled future

Vibrant
Economy

Sustainable cities

Healthy Environment

Robust Recreation

Productive agriculture

It’s on all of us to stay engaged, build understanding, and act.