The Colorado Water Trust was formed in 2001 to support and promote voluntary efforts to protect and restore the state's streamflows. In the 1800s, Coloradans began diverting the state’s rivers and streams to serve a variety of beneficial uses such as farms and ranches, mines, industries, and homesteads. New diversions and beneficial uses have come online and as of now, many rivers, streams, wetlands, and riparian areas are water-short, threatening Colorado’s water-dependent natural heritage and environmental diversity. Voluntary water conservation efforts can and do mitigate water shortages, and the Colorado Water Trust was formed to encourage such efforts. Today, CWT is the only non-profit organization working statewide to transact water deals for conservation benefits.
A Cooperative Commitment
The Water Trust works in coordination with the agricultural community and other water users, governmental entities, land trusts, watershed groups and other non-profit conservation organizations. It pursues and supports the following activities:
Water Rights Acquisitions. The Water Trust will acquire decreed water rights from willing sellers that will be changed so that they can be dedicated to instream flows use. To engage in this activity, the Water Trust works in partnership with the Colorado Water Conservation Board, the only entity authorized by law to hold such rights.
Water Conservation through Physical and Structural Solutions. To secure conservation benefits, the Trust works with existing water users, especially irrigators who now employ about 90 percent of the state’s water. Using any innovative mechanisms available, the Water Trust will work with agricultural water users to promote the continued agricultural use of water rights in combination with physical and structural solutions to create water conservation. Typically, these situations result in preservation or maintenance of wetlands, wildlife habitat, open space amenities, and other conservation values. Thoughtful and creative approaches will enable Colorado to protect and to restore important ecosystems, while supporting the State’s important agricultural heritage.
Technical Support. The Water Trust serves as a resource for land trusts with water issues that often arise in connection with their land conservation activities, including analysis of associated water rights and advice on how to best realize water-related conservation benefits.
CWT Operating Principles
To work within the framework of Colorado water law, interstate compacts, and equitable apportionments.
To work with willing participants.
To strive for consensus in representing a broad spectrum of water interests.
To act with ethics and integrity.
To act on sound factual, scientific, technical, and legal bases.
To be results-oriented, pragmatic, visionary, and problem-solving.
To maintain a strategic focus on the Water Trust’s niche and mission.
