Water Issues Heat Up

Water Issues Heat Up

Water Issues Heat Up. I'm Greg Martin with Lacy Gray for Colorado Ag Today.

It's not an issue that will go away soon. Water, or the lack thereof and the distribution of what there is has Colorado working hard to finalize their water plan.

GRAY: In December, the Colorado Water Conservation Board released the first draft of the Colorado Water Plan, a comprehensive look at how the state can maintain a healthy economy and environment amidst dramatic population growth. The Board has been holding a series of roundtable meetings in each of the states nine water basins to get as much input on the plan as possible.

MARTIN: The main issue is supply and demand. The demand though comes from other areas than just making sure crops get enough water, there are also growing urban areas that need their share as well. On top of that you have the two halves of the state vying for the same water.

GRAY: Historically, the state will buy the water rights from local farmers to fill the void but with the growing need for water that plan has caused a lot of problems for farmers on the front range. Most of the water is on the Western Slope and diversions there are already putting a strain on the Colorado River Basin which also supplies water to six other U.S. states and two Mexican states.

MARTIN: The final version of the Colorado Water Plan should be submitted to the Governor on December 10th. A second version of the plan will be released in July and another comment period will allow people to have some input as well.

And that's Colorado Ag Today. I'm Greg Martin, thanks for listening on the Ag Information Network of the West.

Previous ReportRegional Conservation Partnership Program
Next ReportLearning The Importance of Agriculture