2026 Policy Priorities

Water is Colorado’s most vital resource. It shapes our landscapes, sustains communities, drives our economy, and anchors our way of life. From the forested headwaters of the Rockies to working ranches and farms of the Western Slope, San Luis Valley, and the Eastern Plains, from Tribal lands to growing cities, every Coloradan depends on the responsible management of clean, reliable water.

Colorado’s water future depends on adapting to changing conditions. Prolonged drought, extreme weather, population growth, and competing demands require dynamic, inclusive and proactive approaches to water management that meet the needs of Colorado communities while preparing for a more resilient tomorrow.

We ask those who seek to lead our state to commit to proactive action and leadership on these four priorities for securing Colorado’s water future.

Priority 1: Embrace Forward-Thinking Management to Build Water Resilience

Colorado’s future depends on how we protect and manage water. The state must deploy versatile tools and strategies that prepare stressed water systems for future demands while upholding prior appropriation and honoring federally reserved and state-based water rights.

Key actions:

• Support voluntary actions to stretch water supplies including shared-use agreements, efficiency upgrades, and adaptable storage solutions that recognize water user interconnectedness and balance limited supplies across sectors
• Advance urban and rural conservation through smart policy, economic incentives, technology, and coordinated action across jurisdictions
• Invest in watershed resilience including drought preparedness, wildfire risk reduction, integrated land-use planning, and scenario modeling
• Safeguard water quality for public health, ecosystem integrity, and supply reliability
• Foster collaboration among water providers, conservation districts, governments, farmers, ranchers, Tribes, industry, and recreation stakeholders
• Ensure opportunities for full Tribal engagement in water planning and governance, and support Tribes in upholding their sovereignty, ensuring their legal rights are respected, and. integrating Indigenous knowledge

Why it matters: Colorado can’t manage tomorrow’s water challenges with yesterday’s tools. Adaptive water management is the foundation of a secure water future for all Coloradans.

Priority 2: Rebuild and Safeguard Healthy Watersheds

Colorado’s rivers, aquifers, wetlands, and forests are living infrastructure essential to clean water, healthy ecosystems, and strong communities. Natural infrastructure must be a central pillar of water policy alongside built infrastructure.

Key actions:

• Safeguard rivers, wetlands, and riparian corridors for water quality, flow regulation, groundwater recharge, and ecological health
• Invest in forest and rangeland management to protect headwaters, reduce wildfire risk, and stabilize watersheds
• Manage groundwater-dependent ecosystems and aquifers for long-term viability of both agricultural and drinking water supplies
• Recognize and fund natural infrastructure as critical assets on par with built infrastructure
• Align efforts across jurisdictions through watershed-scale planning involving Tribal, local, state and federal entities

Why it matters: Healthy watersheds are reliable watersheds. Colorado’s future depends on sustaining the natural systems that sustain us.

Priority 3: Promote Strategic Investment for Multiple Water Needs

Meeting future water demand requires strategic investment across sectors, geographies, and communities – serving rural and urban users, Tribes, agriculture, environment, recreation and industry.

Key actions: 

• Fund multi-benefit projects that deliver value across agriculture, municipalities, Tribes, recreation, environment, and industry
• Provide technical and financial assistance to underserved communities and smaller providers, particularly in rural and Tribal areas
• Modernize aging infrastructure and support adoption of water-efficient technologies
• Evaluate emerging high-demand sectors including data centers, advanced manufacturing, and clean tech to ensure their wise and efficient use of water
• Align investments with Colorado’s Water Plan and track progress
• Incentivize public-private partnerships to drive innovation and attract investment
• Recognize natural infrastructure and ecosystem services for water storage, flood mitigation, water quality and recreation

What it matters: smart, targeted investment ensures Colorado’s people, businesses, and environment thrive together.

Priority 4: Lead Through Strategic Diplomacy in Interstate Water Matters

As a headwaters state facing shrinking supplies and growing demands, Colorado must lead to shape the future of interstate water management. The next governor and attorney general must protect Colorado’s legal rights while embracing collaborative leadership that prioritizes stability and long-term planning over costly, uncertain conflict that perpetuates short-term, crisis-driven reactions.

Key actions:

• Strengthen Colorado’s position in interstate negotiations through technical expertise, solutions-oriented diplomacy, and integrity
• Support workable agreements that advance shared responsibility and risk mitigation among states, Tribes and federal partners – especially within the Colorado River Basin
• Invest in data, modeling and forecasting to support transparent, science-based decisions
• Work closely with water users across Colorado to ensure interstate strategies reflect local needs and broad consensus
• Champion proactive, long-term planning that gives water users confidence to plan year to year, not crisis to crisis
• Uphold Colorado’s water rights and compact entitlements while recognizing that legal defense along is not a substitute for regional cooperation, innovation, and leadership.

Why it matters: Colorado must lead with foresight and partnership, ensuring water users can plan, grow, and thrive with confidence–not react to uncertainty.

Conclusion: A Shared Vision for Colorado’s Water Future

Water in Colorado is more than a resource – it is our foundation and shared future. Colorado has long been a national leader in water stewardship. The next chapter demands bold, strategic action.

By advancing flexible management, investing in healthy watersheds, prioritizing strategic investment, and leading in interstate water matters, we can ensure that Colorado’s water works for everyone – now and for generations to come.