2024 Recap

The Colorado River District’s Community Funding Partnership (CFP) Program continued to make a significant impact in 2024, awarding 29 grants totaling $8.4 million.  A notable update is that the Sonoran Institute’s Growing Water Smart program, which previously received a $98k grant,is now accepting new applicants through February 28th for  a second round of training held on April 28-30th in Montrose. The workshops support municipal leaders and other water managers interested in   how to developing strategies that address local and regional water concerns and integrating water and land use planning for the future of their communities. Click HERE more details about how to apply, as well as a comprehensive look at the program and details of all past and current projects.

The board was also presented with copies of the completed 2024 Annual Report. This report details the unique and impactful projects funded by the Community Funding Partnership in 2024, and highlights the capacity-building Accelerator Grant Program. Learn more HERE.

The CFP team presented three new action items for funding:

• Terror Ditch Pipeline Project — Delta County
  The board approved an $80k grant for the Terror Ditch Pipeline Project, which aims to pipe 1.1 miles of ditch to reduce water loss and mitigate collapse risks. This ditch serves approximately 500 acres of agricultural land in the Gunnison basin. The funding will help ensure water delivery for the area.
• Upper Yampa Watershed and Stagecoach Reservoir Water Quality Model Project — Routte County
  A $100k grant was approved for the Upper Yampa Watershed and Stagecoach Reservoir Water Quality Model Project. The project seeks to develop models to better understand and serve as decision-making tools to address   Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in the Upper Yampa Watershed, ultimately improving water quality management.
• CMU Roth Powell Hutchins Water Center — District-Wide
  The board approved a $300k grant to the CMU Roth Powell Hutchins Water Center to support the hiring of an executive director and to create longevity and long-term sustainability within the organization. The funds will also aid in the development of strategic plans, organizational structure, and the creation of a West Slope center for water policy and academic education.

After thorough discussions on each proposal, the board approved a total of $480,000 in funding for these multipurpose water projects across the district, advancing our commitment to preserving and improving water resources throughout the Western Slope.

To learn more about the Community Funding Partnership program, visit the website by clicking HERE.

To read the Community Funding Partnership program Annual Report, click HERE.

Slow Start to Seasonal Snow Water Accumulation

Don Meyer, Sr. Water Resources Engineer, and Sam Calahan, Water Resources Data Specialist provided an update on hydrology across the region and on Colorado’s western slope. Full report available in the public meeting packet beginning on page 159. Click HERE to read.

Following a wet November across most of the Upper Colorado River Basin, observed precipitation records essentially “flat lined” until the last week in December, with very little accumulation. Early indications project more of the same for 2025: slow snowpack growth punctuated with unpredictable and variable stairstep gains that should be larger to the north and smaller to the south, staying true to La Nina (cool ocean temperature phase) driven hydro-climatic circulation patterns. With this likelihood, the April-July 2025 water supply conditions may tend towards slightly below average conditions across the basin, however, there is very little confidence at this early time of year.

Soil Moisture, Snowpack and Water Supply in the Colorado River Basin

One reason for this trend is that we know that runoff is increasingly influenced by antecedent soil moisture conditions as aridification intensifies. Meaning, how dry was the soil when the snow started falling? The drier the soil, the more water is necessary to quench that thirst before it can run off into rivers.

In a comparison done by the Colorado River Basin Forecast Center between November of 2023, and 2024, changes varied across the state. There was an improvement in soil moisture in the Gunnison, Dolores and San Juan basins, but somewhat reduced soil moisture within River District’s fifteen counties, along with “good to bad” conditions in Wyoming and Utah, and “more of the same” – very dry soil conditions in the Lower Basin snowpack areas.

Early water supply forecasts (issued December, 2024) across the entire Upper Basin and inflow forecasts into Lakes Powell and Mead are generally below average (92% of average, Colorado River Basin Forecast Center (CBRFC)) with just under 6 million acre-feet of projected unregulated inflow for Lake Powell in the April to July 2025 period. With this current forecast, there is little chance of increasing large mainstream reservoir levels over the next 12 months. With a 7.48 maf release from Lake Powell, the reservoir’s elevation will likely remain about the same as last year.

Post-2026 Guidelines Negotiations Continue; Conserved consumptive use a major focus

Full report available HERE, pg. 138.

During his General Manager’s report, Andy Mueller provided the board with an update on inter-state conversation including the ongoing negotiations around post-2026 operational guidelines for Lakes Powell and Mead. On the topic of the negotiations between the seven basin states around future operating guidelines for the nation’s largest reservoirs, Mueller suggested that we are seeing a continued lack of progress. A revised Upper Basin proposal was submitted in December, 2024 with a suggested approach to creating a conservation account for Upper Basin states in Lake Powell. Under this proposal, up to 200 kaf annually could be banked in Powell as a way to provide the four Upper Basin states with a buffer for required Colorado River Compact deliveries.

Much of the board discussion centered around what role conserved consumptive use programs will play in these high-stakes decisions, and how they could potentially impact the West Slope.

“Lower basin interests and federal officials have been asking our state and other upper basin states to put meat on the bones of a conserved consumptive use program,” said Mueller. “But so far, every drop of water that has been used in those programs has come off the west slope. If the rules don’t change and if we don’t establish proper sideboards to govern programs like this, then all of that water is going to come out of West Slope agriculture.”

Directors suggested that River District staff write a letter to the state and congressional representatives with suggested guidelines for implementation of CCU programs.

Strategic Plan Updates

In 2016, the Board embarked on a strategic planning effort and adopted a plan that has been guiding the work of the District over the last several years.  While many of the critical issues remain, some significant changes have occurred since the adoption of the 2016 Strategic Plan. Some of these changes include the ongoing multi-decadal drought, shifting political, social, and economic dynamics, the passage of Ballot Measure 7A, the creation of the Community Funding Partnership, the Shoshone Water Rights efforts, and internal transitions. As part of the strategic planning process, the District aims to refine priorities, foster staff development, and set a strategic vision for the next 5 years.

On Tuesday, January 21, the Board of Directors engaged with staff and facilitators to continue this process. Directors offered feedback to refine and prioritize  strategic initiatives and goals moving forward. Directors will consider a draft Strategic Plan during their April Board meeting.  More discussions designed to incorporate staff and board input are scheduled to occur throughout the winter and spring with a current goal of summer, 2025, for a finalized plan.

Partnerships Support Impactful Surface Water Monitoring Network in Colorado

Together with stakeholders throughout all the sub-basins of the Colorado River District and in conjunction with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Colorado River District funds one of the largest cooperative surface water monitoring and assessment programs in the state of Colorado. These stream gages measure flow and provide water quality data at points in basins across the Western Slope. These data are publicly available via websites for downloading or browsing, to support water resource planning, management and decision making by managers, water users and researchers.

With a combined price tag of approximately $1.03 million, the CRD-USGS joint funding agreement is likely to continue to be the largest such cooperative monitoring program in the State of Colorado. Aside from the CRD community funding partnership grant program, it represents the largest single River District general budget item.

During their public meeting, the board voted unanimously to delegate authority to the general manager to enter into a new joint funding agreement with the USGS not to exceed $780,000 to maintain these critical data-gathering tools in 2025.

A full report on this effort in available in our public memo, beginning on pg. 177. Click HERE to read.

Shoshone Water Rights Preservation Project Continues with Funding Award

On January 17, the Bureau of Reclamation announced an award of up to $40 million through funds from the Inflation Reduction Act for the Shoshone Water Rights Preservation project. Over $388 million was awarded to projects throughout the Upper Basin States in the same announcement, representing a significant federal investment in projects that mitigate drought impacts and offer durable solutions for communities across the west.

General Manager Andy Mueller recognized the effort of staff in completing the application for these funds, and pointed out that it contained letters of support from more than fifty different organizations alongside over $56 million in local and state funding commitments.

Submitted in November 2024, the application is a comprehensive document, available on our website here. It includes the River District’s preliminary approach to historical use, along with a thorough analysis of the importance of the Shoshone water rights for the environmental and economic health of the rural communities on the western slope. The River District staff continues to maintain an open dialog with various stakeholders throughout the state and on the Front Range about this significant project.

State Updates

The first Regular Session of Colorado’s 75th General Assembly will convene in Denver on the morning of January 8th. The General Assembly will welcome 23 new legislators, including eight Senators – seven transitioning from the House and one entirely new to the Assembly. Additionally, 22 new House members have completed their orientation phases and are preparing for their new roles.

Budget concerns will be central to this year’s legislative session. Staff will continue to monitor budgetary developments and will engage with JBC leadership regarding any proposals that could impact Western Slope water interests and needed resources.

Democrats hold majorities in both Chambers of the legislature again this year. Although Republicans were able to flip three seats in the November general election which cost Democrats their super majority in the House. The loss of those three seats reduced the Democratic edge in the House to 43-22 from 46-19. Similarly in the Senate, where 18 of 35 total seats were up for election on November 5, Republicans were able to win a small handful of key races to prevent a Democratic super majority. Democrats in the Senate will maintain a 23-12 advantage in the coming session.

Leadership elections yielded no surprises:

• House Leadership: Rep. Julie McCluskie remains Speaker, with Rep. Monica Duran continuing as Majority Leader.
• Senate Leadership: Former President Pro Tempore James Coleman ascends to Senate President, with Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez continuing his tenure.
• Republican Leadership: House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese and Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen were re-elected. Sen. Cleave Simpson, a recognized water policy expert from Alamosa, was elected Assistant Minority Leader.

The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, which serves as the committee of reference for legislation concerning water, agriculture, wildlife, and recreation, will continue to be chaired by Sen. Dylan Roberts (D-Frisco).

The House Agriculture, Livestock, & Water Committee will be chaired again by Rep. Karen McCormick (D-Longmont). Rep. Tisha Mauro (D-Pueblo) will serve as Vice Chair.

To join bi-monthly legislative update meetings for the Colorado River District Board of Directors, please email Stephanie Moore with your request at smoore@crwcd.org.

Federal Updates

Staff continue to engage with our federal elected officials and relevant agencies on a regular basis. Much of our work on federal issues over the last quarter has centered on continued engagement with our delegation on various pieces of water legislation, and outreach to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI).

To read a summary of significant water bills passed by the 118^th Congress before its adjournment, read the full report beginning on page 220 of the public memo available HERE.