Articles – Rio Grande Basin Plan
CWCB & PEPO Outline Priorities for the Statewide Initiatives Fund
Public Education Outreach & Participation (PEPO) funding was recently expanded by the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to include a “Statewide Initiatives” category. In creating the Statewide Initiatives category, the Water Plan serves as the main driver...
Upper Culebra Watershed Assessment
The Upper Culebra Watershed Assessment is being completed to evaluate watershed conditions within the Culebra River basin and develop projects and strategies to address watershed health concerns. The assessment approach is based on community-identified areas of...
San Luis Valley Confined Aquifer Part 2: Myths and Realities
One of the most cussed and discussed concepts is whether there is a billion acre-feet, or two billion, or some other huge volume of groundwater contained in the aquifers of the Valley. We still see these numbers being cited by some people as justification for new...
The San Luis Valley Confined Aquifer Part 1: How Does It Work?
Let’s take a close look at the San Luis Valley’s confined aquifer. What is the reality? Does confined aquifer water, deeply buried and out of sight under much of the Valley, have any connection to the unconfined aquifer or to surface streams? How is water recharged...
Understanding the Rio Grande Basin Water Plan
Since the 2002-2003 drought, the Colorado Water Conservation Board has undertaken a comprehensive study of Colorado’s water. The study known as the Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) 2010 recognized that water supply is limited and as Colorado continues to grow...
Rio Grande Roundtable Basin Implementation Plan
This is the first of monthly articles from the Rio Grande Basin Roundtable, regarding the implementation of the Basin Water Plan. Since the 2002-2003 drought, the Colorado Water Conservation Board has undertaken a comprehensive study of Colorado’s water. The study...
Basin Goals and Measurable Outcomes
To develop the Rio Grande Basin Plan the Basin Plan’s Steering Committee and subcommittees identified 14 goals for the Plan. These goals focus on the most important issues confronting the Basin and strive to achieve long-term sustainability in water supplies and uses....
The Rio Grande Basin Water Plan Addresses Water Needs
Colorado’s population surpassed 5 million people in the summer of 2008, and it is expected to double to 10 million people by 2050. The majority of the growth will be on Colorado’s Front Range, but the fastest growth rates will occur on the Western Slope. The...
The Rio Grande Basin Water Plan Works to Address Future Ag Water Needs
For decades Agriculture has been associated with the production of food crops. Accordingly, agriculture and farming were both one and the same, as long as farming was not commercialized. But as time has progressed and economic development has accelerated, there have...
Introduction to the Rio Grande Basin Implementation Plan
This article is an excerpt from the Rio Grande Basin Plan Executive Summary and serves as the culmination of many hours work from the Rio Grande Basin Roundtable members and many Upper Rio Grande Basin citizens, Non-government Organizations and Agencies. Part One: The...