The Water for Colorado Coalition
Water connects us and everything we do—it is essential for our health and survival, for recreation and wildlife habitat, for businesses that operate in our state, and for productive farms and ranches. Healthy rivers also help safeguard our most vulnerable communities from the impacts of climate change. But with a drying climate, growing population, and increasing demands on our water, our rivers can’t meet all of our needs without help. Our coalition recognizes the importance and urgency of working together to keep our rivers healthy and flowing to support Colorado’s diverse needs.
The community of organizations that make up the Water for Colorado Coalition represent diverse perspectives and share a commitment to protecting Colorado’s water future to secure a reliable water supply for the state and for future generations.
Coalition Partners
The Story of the Coalition
The Water Plan
Our partner organizations came together in 2015 with a shared objective: to build a coalition to address Colorado’s increasing water scarcity and secure its sustainable water future. The Water for Colorado Coalition’s first goal was to participate in and influence the development of Colorado’s first state water plan to ensure that conservation and the environment were top priorities.
The Water Plan
Our partner organizations came together in 2015 with a shared objective: to build a coalition to address Colorado’s increasing water scarcity and secure its sustainable water future. The Water for Colorado Coalition’s first goal was to participate in and influence the development of Colorado’s first state water plan to ensure that conservation and the environment were top priorities.
The call to create a water plan for Colorado came from former Governor John Hickenlooper by executive order in 2013. After the initial order, the Colorado Water Conservation Board got to work gathering ideas from across the state to develop the plan, including holding over 800 public meetings and collecting more than 30,000 public comments, which our organizations helped gather. It was the largest and most celebrated civic engagement process in state history.
The call to create a water plan for Colorado came from former Governor John Hickenlooper by executive order in 2013. After the initial order, the Colorado Water Conservation Board got to work gathering ideas from across the state to develop the plan, including holding over 800 public meetings and collecting more than 30,000 public comments, which our organizations helped gather. It was the largest and most celebrated civic engagement process in state history.
Colorado’s Water Plan, issued in 2015 and updated in 2022, outlines solutions to address the gap between water supply and demand. The plan estimated that implementation of the projects and strategies necessary to close our water supply gap would require a $20 billion investment over 30 years. The State covers a portion of that annually with state funding, but there remains a funding gap–or no identified source of funding– for $3 billion total, which equals $100 million annually. Our coalition is working to fix that and ensure that our rivers get the funding they need to stay healthy and flowing.
Colorado’s Water Plan, issued in 2015 and updated in 2022, outlines solutions to address the gap between water supply and demand. The plan estimated that implementation of the projects and strategies necessary to close our water supply gap would require a $20 billion investment over 30 years. The State covers a portion of that annually with state funding, but there remains a funding gap–or no identified source of funding– for $3 billion total, which equals $100 million annually. Our coalition is working to fix that and ensure that our rivers get the funding they need to stay healthy and flowing.
Five years later, the plan still lacks an adequate and sustainable long-term funding source. In November 2019, voters approved Proposition DD, which legalized sports betting and will devote most of its tax revenue to the water plan. The Colorado Water Plan was also the recipient of $50 million from the Colorado Recovery Act and $20 million from the general fund during the 2021 legislative session. At a local level, two ballot measures in the Colorado River District and the Left Hand-St. Vrain Valley District will bring in additional funding from tax revenue. However, even if sports betting ultimately generates the annual maximum revenue, the state Water Plan will need additional sources of funding beyond even legislative appropriations to support the myriad grant projects already being identified statewide.
Five years later, the plan still lacks an adequate and sustainable long-term funding source. In November 2019, voters approved Proposition DD, which legalized sports betting and will devote most of its tax revenue to the water plan. The Colorado Water Plan was also the recipient of $50 million from the Colorado Recovery Act and $20 million from the general fund during the 2021 legislative session. At a local level, two ballot measures in the Colorado River District and the Left Hand-St. Vrain Valley District will bring in additional funding from tax revenue. However, even if sports betting ultimately generates the annual maximum revenue, the state Water Plan will need additional sources of funding beyond even legislative appropriations to support the myriad grant projects already being identified statewide.
That’s where we come in. We are working with strategic partners across the state, advocating for water smart policy, and helping on-the-ground partners develop grant proposals. Our Coalition is dedicated to working alongside state agencies and local communities to ensure projects that sustain healthy rivers are well-funded and water conservation needs are continually prioritized.
That’s where we come in. We are working with strategic partners across the state, advocating for water smart policy, and helping on-the-ground partners develop grant proposals. Our Coalition is dedicated to working alongside state agencies and local communities to ensure projects that sustain healthy rivers are well-funded and water conservation needs are continually prioritized.
Coalition Achievements
These examples highlight what YOU have helped US accomplish by being part of this movement!
2015: Colorado’s Water Plan is finalized
We gathered 28,000 signatures from committed citizens like you, encouraging conservation priorities to be included in the state’s first-ever water plan. This public outreach effort enabled thousands of Coloradans to have their voices heard. They sent emails, petitions, phone calls, and shared stories to protect their favorite rivers. This grassroots engagement ensured that Colorado’s Water Plan supported healthy rivers and thriving ecosystems, outdoor recreation, and abundant wildlife, in addition to growing cities, prosperous businesses, and productive agriculture.
2018: Funding is established
Water for Colorado members took action to encourage former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper to help fund protections for rivers outlined in Colorado’s Water Plan, resulting in a bill signed by the Governor that allocated over $4 million for increased water conservation to benefit our rivers, communities, recreation, and wildlife. Specifically, this money funded projects to:
- Increase water flowing down Colorado rivers;
- Clean up streams;
- Restore habitat for fish and other wildlife;
- Improve recreational opportunities for anglers, boaters, and all who recreate;
- Help communities conserve water, taking the pressure off of rivers.
2018: New Governor commits to funding the Water Plan
During Jared Polis’s campaign for governor, he promised to put Colorado’s Water Plan back at the top of the state’s priorities and work toward fully funding it — ensuring the plan was more than just a collection of ideas and intentions. The Water for Colorado Coalition activated members to sign a petition encouraging Governor-elect Polis to uphold his commitment to prioritize fully funding the Water Plan.
2018 – 2019: Funding is allocated to the Water Plan
Water for Colorado Coalition members supported successful efforts to increase local funding sources to improve river health.
2019: Sports betting is legalized—tax revenue goes to Water Plan implementation
Colorado voters passed Proposition DD to legalize sports betting and use the resulting taxes to fund the state Water Plan. This was only the third statewide tax increase approved by voters in 27 years and it marks the first voter-approved effort to fund the 2015 Water Plan. Coalition partners worked hard to pass DD.
Proposition DD places a 10% tax on casinos’ profits from sports wagers, up to $29 million annually. The majority of the revenue will contribute to the Water Plan’s implementation.
The passing of this measure showed that Coloradans value water and planning for their water future. Coalition partners were proud to support these efforts.
2019-2020: Governor Polis expresses support for the Water Plan
Water for Colorado raised awareness among the public and elected officials about the importance of funding and implementing Colorado’s Water Plan. These efforts led Governor Polis to emphasize the need to prioritize the plan and water conservation efforts to ensure a secure water future for Colorado.
> 2019: Governor Polis allocates an additional $10 million to Colorado’s Water Plan to support water projects
2020: Colorado Water Plan Grant Projects Map is launched
Water for Colorado launched a new multimedia tool to demonstrate the benefits of state-funded local water projects along our rivers and to show elected officials the ongoing need for more funding for these types of projects that benefit rivers and enhance the surrounding communities. The Colorado Water Plan Grant Projects Map is an interactive map with dynamic storytelling components, beautiful videos, photos, and blog posts.
2020: Water smart policy is passed
Governor Jared Polis signed two bills into law that will help Coloradans conserve water and ensure our rivers can support everyone who depends on them.
- HB20-1157 extends Colorado’s successful instream flow program to allow farmers, ranchers, and other water rights holders to temporarily and voluntarily choose to allow water to stay in rivers to help sustain them during dry periods.
- HB20-1095 authorizes local governments to include a water element in their master plans. This enables Colorado municipalities to pursue growth strategies that conserve limited water supplies and lead to more water efficient development. It also provides an opportunity for local residents to have a say in decisions regarding water and growth, as developing and updating master plans involves input and buy-in from residents.
2020: 7A campaigns bring additional local funding to water
Two local ballot initiatives — one in the Colorado River District and another in the St. Vrain & Left Hand Water Conservancy District, encompassing parts of Boulder, Weld, and Larimer Counties — were passed with strong voter approval. The measures will generate over $8 million for water projects. Coalition partners played an integral role in supporting the campaigns around these initiatives, communicating to voters how the money from the proposed tax increases would ultimately benefit water and their communities. Learn more about Water for Colorado’s involvement in the process by checking out our Water Funding Playbook.
2021: Legislature approves additional funding for water
2021: The Colorado Recovery Act includes $50 million for water-specific projects, including watershed restoration, drought recovery and management, and additional support for projects outlined in the state’s water plan.
2021: HB21-1260 is unanimously passed by the Colorado General Assembly, allocating $20 million to implementation of the Colorado Water Plan. Coalition partners played an important role supporting the bill as it made its way through the Legislature.
2021: Federal Funding Flows to Colorado Water
The United States Congress approved the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), providing a once-in-a-generation influx of federal funding to western water. The State of Colorado is now responsible for capturing these federal funds and ensuring they flow to on-the-ground water projects that will benefit our state’s rivers, watersheds, and communities.
2022: Coalition Opposes Diversion of San Luis Valley Water to Douglas County
Water for Colorado publicly opposed the “Renewable Water Resources” proposal, a plan to divert 22,000 acre feet per year from the San Luis Valley to the Front Range. From publishing the Coalition’s first joint OpEd in the Colorado Sun to collecting signatures from across Colorado, the Coalition heavily participated in efforts to determine a more sustainable solution.
Ultimately, A majority of Douglas County commissioners voted in late-May to not use federal COVID relief money flowing to the state from ARPA to fund the proposed water diversion.
2022: Legislature Passes More Water Wins
HB1151: Replacing high-water-use varieties of turf with water efficient landscapes would save significant amounts of water, but Colorado does not have a statewide program to incentivize this change.
HB1379: Concerning transfers from the economic recovery and relief cash fund (American Rescue Plan Act) to provide additional funding for the management of certain natural resources.
HB1402: Ammending Proposition DD — passed in 2019 — to increase available funding for both water and problem gaming programs.
2022: W4C Participates in the Colorado Water Plan Update Process
→ The Coalition worked together with the Colorado Water Conservation Board to influence its direction and approach to the Basin Roundtables in an effort to ensure that each Basin Implementation Plan (BIP) update includes appropriate coverage of, and commitment to, conservation, environment and recreation goals.
→ The Coalition encouraged the public to participate in the public comment period of the Colorado Water Plan Update Process by distributing a petition detailing seven key recommendations for the revision. The petition, and ones of Water for Colorado’s affiliated organizations, were supported by 5,000+ Coloradans.
→ The Coalition helped guide the revision of the Water Plan by submitting a series of technical comments alongside letters from stakeholder groups such as the business community and recreation community.
→ The Coalition focused on advancing equity in the Colorado Water Plan, submitting an equity letter and offering guidance on ways to ensure successful realization of equity, diversity, and inclusion goals in the revised CWP.
2023: Coalition advances Stream Restoration work
In 2023, the coalition advocated for legislation that defines a set of minor stream restoration activities that are not subject to water rights administration which provides clarity for project proponents and the water rights community so that stream restoration projects can proceed without unnecessary regulation.
The Coalition also facilitated the development of various training resources — including webinars, in-person workshops, and a comprehensive manual — to help explain and put into practice the resultant legislation, SB23-270.
2023: Coalition members sit on the Colorado River Drought Task Force
The coalition had two members on the 2023 Colorado River Drought Task Force and advocated for legislation that implements its recommendations, including expanding opportunities for water users to temporarily loan their stored water to maintain healthy river flows, expanding access for farmers and ranchers to loan their water to other users while still keeping the water in agriculture, and allowing Tribes better access to grant funding by removing a fund matching requirement.
2024: Groups Work on the Cooperative Conservation Alternative
Conservation groups within W4C submitted the Cooperative Conservation Alternative to the Bureau of Reclamation, outlining strategies for managing the Colorado River after current guidelines expire in 2026. The Alternative helps stabilize the system, embeds environmental mitigation and stewardship into operations, incentivizes conservation, and supports Colorado River Delta restoration efforts.
Coalition partners retain the option of deciding whether to participate in specific programs, policies, and activities. Orla Bannan, the Healthy Rivers Program Strategic Engagement Manager for Western Resource Advocates, and Hannah Holm, American Rivers’ Southwestern Associate Director for Policy, are the co-chairs of the Coalition.