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Mission Statement: To lead in the protection, conservation, use, and development of the water resources of the Colorado River basin for the welfare of the District, and to safeguard for Colorado all waters of the Colorado River to which the state is entitled.
Happy 75th Anniversary Year, Colorado River District! Water 2012 is a statewide water awareness initiative striving to connect Coloradans to their water through resources, events and activities. To learn more and find a celebration in your neighborhood watershed visit Water2012.org.  Historic water pact signed between Colorado's East, West Slope interests Decades of court battles over the diversion of Colorado River water to the Front Range could be ending with the signing Tuesday of what is being termed "an historic agreement" between Western slope cities and counties, Denver Water and other interests in the state. The agreement, signed near the headwaters of the Colorado River in Hot Sulphur Springs, will govern future water project construction and management of Colorado River Basin water and establishes a new process for dealing with long-standing disputes between east and west slope interests. "The collaborative spirit is alive and well in Colorado," said Gov. John Hickenlooper. "This is a state where we get things done. From farmers and families to businesses and wildlife, this agreement will help protect Colorado's water and is a testament to how collaboration can overcome even long-standing differences in managing this vital resource." -Full article-Summit County signs on to Colo. River deal Pact aims to end fighting between East, West Slopes over water The culmination of several years of negotiations on water protections for the Western Slope took place on Tuesday in Grand County during an official signing of the Colorado Cooperative Agreement. The signing took place more than one year after Gov. John Hickenlooper last visited Grand County, when he first rolled out the Colorado Cooperative Agreement, deemed an unprecedented water agreement for our time. The agreement aims to settle years of East and West Slope water disputes. -Full article-
Colorado River Water Deal ReachedColorado's largest water utility has signed a truce with western slope water agencies and governments over its future use of the stressed Upper Colorado River. This agreement solidifies and shows a new way of doing water business in Colorado," said Grand County Commissioner James Newberry. Newbury spoke at a signing ceremony in Hot Sulpher Springs that included Governor John Hickenlooper, the head of the Colorado River District and others. -Full article- Bennet Statement on the Signing of Colorado River Cooperative AgreementColorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today released the following statement on the signing of the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement (CRCA) between Denver Water, Grand and Summit Counties, and the Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Company "Today's signatures on the cooperative agreement mark a significant step towards the consensus-based and sustainable future development of Colorado's water resources." -Full press release-
Udall Heralds the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement as a 'High Water Mark' for Collaboration on WaterSen. Mark Udall released the following statement today following the signing of the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement by Denver Water, Grand and Summit Counties and the Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Company: 'Water is the lifeblood of Colorado. Our ability to sustainably use it to fuel economic growth and preserve our Colorado heritage is critical for the state,' Udall said. -Full press release-
Colorado: Summit, Grand counties sign deal with Denver WaterA major water agreement aimed at ending decades of feuding and litigation between the Front Range and the West Slope moved one step closer to completion this week, as Denver Water, Summit County and Grand County representatives inked the deal at a ceremony in Hot Sulphur Springs. Along with being hailed as a model of collaboration by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, the deal also gives all the parties some certainties as to the future management and disposition of the state's most precious resource. -Full Article- A historic moment for Colorado waterFormer foes come together to sign Colorado River Cooperative Agreement
Leaders from Grand and Summit counties, Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch & Reservoir Co. - entities that for decades battled in court over water - stood today with Gov. John Hickenlooper and signed the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, changing the way water will be managed in Colorado.
The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement is the product of years of negotiations, and ultimately included more than 40 parties stretching from Grand Junction to the Denver metro area. The historic agreement is the largest of its kind in the history of the state. It shifts Colorado away from a path of conflict to a path of cooperation and collaboration in managing the state's water resources.
-Full article-More details can be found at www.denverwater.org and at www.crwcd.org/page_336
Denver Water, 2 counties sign Colo. River deal
Colorado's largest water utility and two western counties are ratifying a deal aimed at balancing the Denver-area's demand for water with the needs of mountain communities. Denver Water and the leaders of Grand and Summit counties are set to sign the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement at noon Tuesday in Hot Sulphur Springs.-Full Story--Agenda- American Rivers attempts to influence Colo. River District
The listing of the Crystal River by American Rivers as one of the top-10 most endangered rivers in America this year is designed to influence the boards of two regional water districts, the Colorado River District and the West David Water Conservancy District.
"It is purely to influence the districts," said Matt Rice, the director of conservation in Colorado for American Rivers. "Our interest is having them play a leadership role in the protection of this river and protection means no new dams. And success would be that the districts abandon all conditional water rights on the Crystal and the river continues to flow free and be without a dam."
But Chris Treece*, the external affairs director for the Colorado River District, said his organization and the West Divide District already have the river's best interests at heart.
"The Crystal River goes dry just about every year and certainly will this year, in this drought year," Treece said. "Having a little bit of storage where we pick up spring snowmelt and hang on to it for later-season release, principally for the health of the river, could be a huge benefit to the Crystal River. And I wish American Rivers recognized that."
-Full article-[*note: correct spelling: Treese]
Join the conversation about Colorado's water. Check out the Water 2012 Blog 
 Colorado River District 2011 Annual Report
Highlights: Colorado River Cooperative Agreement; State and Federal legislation; Grant Program; H2O Outdoors Water Camp; Financials; and more.
Upcoming Annual State of the River Meetings:Wed., May 30, Eagle River Valley State of the River, 5:30-8:00pm, Berry Creek Middle School, 1000 Miller Ranch Road Edwards (location map and directions)Mon., June 4, Gunnison County State of the Rivers, Student Center Ballroom at Western Colorado State University, Gunnison : 10 a.m., tour of the Aspinall Unit Reservoirs; 4 p.m. Gunnison Basin Roundtable Meeting: 6:30 p.m. Public Reception; 7 p.m. Snowpack and Streamflow levels and predictions for the summer; 7:20 p.m. Aspinall Operations Update; 7:40 p.m. a History of Construction at the Aspinall Unit; 8:15 p.m. the 75 Year History of the Colorado River District with author George Sibley.
Reclamation Releases a Record of Decision for Aspinall Unit Operations
Reclamation's Western Colorado Area Office announced today the release of the Record of Decision for the Aspinall Unit Operations Final Environmental Impact Statement.
The ROD outlines how Reclamation will operate the Aspinall Unit, consisting of Blue Mesa, Morrow Point and Crystal dams and reservoirs on the Gunnison River, to avoid jeopardy to downstream endangered fish species while continuing to meet the congressionally authorized purposes of the unit.
-Full Press Release-General Manger Eric Kuhn has authored a paper that outlines risk-management issues associated with the growing use of water in the Colorado River Basin. It is called "Risk Management Strategies for the Upper Colorado River Basin." Kuhn lays out the risks lurking in the shadows as demands on the river exceed supply. He explores strategies to minimize the risk of a Colorado River Compact curtailment of the states of the Upper Basin, which are Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico.
By Eric Kuhn, David Modeer and Fred Krupp
The skier at Vail, the programmer in Phoenix, the doctor in Las Vegas, the student in San Diego, and the rancher in Wyoming may not know it, but they are bound together by the Colorado River, its tributaries, and the intricate systems of dams and reservoirs that manage its water supply. Often called the lifeblood of the West, the Colorado River grows our crops, bathes our kids, electrifies our grid, quenches our thirst, and quite literally floats our boats in seven states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
-Full Commentary-
Why this is important: The Bureau of Reclamation is studying how future population growth and climate change may collide to bring crisis on how citizens of the West currently use the Colorado River.
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Colorado River Cooperative AgreementThe Colorado River District has joined 33 other West Slope entities in a historic proposed water supply agreement with Denver Water. The proposed Colorado River Cooperative Agreement offers water supply, environmental benefits and financial benefits to the West Slope as part of a negotiation regarding Denver Water's Moffat Tunnel Project.
Colorado River Cooperative AgreementRisk Management for the Upper Colorado River BasinGeneral Manger Eric Kuhn has authored a paper that outlines risk-management issues associated with the growing use of water in the Colorado River Basin. It is called "Risk Management Strategies for the Upper Colorado River Basin." Kuhn lays out the risks lurking in the shadows as demands on the river exceed supply. He explores strategies to minimize the risk of a Colorado River Compact curtailment of the states of the Upper Basin, which are Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico.
Risk Management for the Upper Colorado River Basin10,825 StudyJoint Water Supply Study by East and West Slope entities to provide summer flows to support the Upper Colorado Endangered Fish Recovery Program.
click hereColorado River ManagementA West Slope Perspective
Existing and Proposed Transmountain Diversion Projects
Colorado River Management Roundtables Website LinkUse this link for the latest information about the Colorado Water for the 21st Century Act that created Basin Roundtables to discuss water supply issues and solutions.
http://ibcc.state.co.us/Colorado River's Uncertain FutureWhether it's climate change, drought or unresolved legal and political issues, the future of the Colorado River offers a flood of uncertainties that must be considered for this hard-working water supply.
Presentations by Eric Kuhn
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