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CCWCD considering $250 million bond to support local farms and ranches, keep water in the region, and plan for the future
Across the South Platte River in Adams, Morgan and Weld counties, drought threatens local farms and ranches and the stability of Colorado’s food supply.
Without new action, the fields that feed us today could be gone tomorrow. One cause is warm and dry winters like we are experiencing this year. Another is cities in the Denver metro area aggressively buying senior water rights for their use and drying up valuable, productive farmland in our backyard.
Central Colorado Water Conservancy District’s mission is to secure and store water to keep this precious resource within the South Platte River basin in Adams, Weld and Morgan counties. Central is working to help ensure that water resources do not leaver this region in the future.
Central Colorado Water’s Board of Directors is considering a $250 million bond proposal to help fund the acquisition of renewable water rights and construction of new reservoir storage to keep water in our region and ensure that this resource remains available for agricultural use. Central’s proposed bond would be focused on the following priorities:
Local Food: Supporting family farms and agricultural businesses in Adams, Morgan and Weld counties by providing access to sustainable water resources and adequate water storage.
Keeping water here, not in metro Denver: Purchasing water rights to secure additional water supplies and keep water in Adams, Morgan and Weld counties.
Infrastructure needs: Investing in water storage projects and building infrastructure for long term storage and delivery of water.
Water for the future: Providing water to municipalities and commercial partners, like dairies and food manufacturers, to support the regional economy and jobs.
Water challenges in Adams, Morgan and Weld counties:
Central’s 10-year outlook includes development of reliable water supplies, including storage and senior water rights.
A portion of the Central’s water supply has been leased from municipal water supplies and as municipalities grow and use their supplies, Central will have less certainty that these leases will be available in the future.
Buy and dry of irrigated lands downstream of the Denver area continues, and the agricultural water needs from groundwater in our region will increase. Central assists with the development of additional water supplies to help protect ag water.
The Colorado Water Plan estimates that 267,000 acres of irrigated farm ground downstream of Denver will be dried up by 2050 to meet future growth demands from the Denver area.
Farms and ranches are at risk in Adams, Morgan and Weld counties if additional water storage is not developed and if additional water rights are not secured.
Farming and Food Production
Approximately 85 percent of Colorado’s population lives in the South Platte River Basin. The South Platte region supports many industries that drive our state’s economy--including aerospace, high tech, energy production and even craft brewing.
According to Water Education Colorado, the South Platte Basin has the greatest concentration of irrigated agricultural lands in our state and the highest agricultural production of any of the state’s river basins.
The South Platte River corridor through Adams, Weld and Morgan counties is one of the largest food-producing areas in our nation. Weld County alone ranks in the Top 10 nationally for food-producing counties, accounting for more than $1.5 billion annually in food production.
A substantial portion of crops grown along the South Platte River goes directly to our tables to feed our families, neighbors and friends. Local farms and ranches provide our region with safe and affordable food, ensuring that we are not dependent on importing food from other states and countries.
Family farms and ranches, often owned and operated across generations of local families, are a cornerstone of our region. Beyond producing locally grown food, they play a vital role in driving the regional and state economies by creating jobs, supporting local businesses and providing food far outside our state’s borders.
These farms and ranches cannot do this without water. Adequate and available water determines the success of the corn, wheat, vegetables and other crops that are historically grown in our region. Water impacts the grazing and feed for cattle and other livestock.
That’s where Central plays a pivotal role—access to water and drought resilience.
Drought Resilience
Colorado had an especially bad winter for snowpack, and it has been a dry summer this year. After the winter, Colorado’s statewide and the South Platte River basin’s snowpack was the worst on record.
That’s why Central was established more than 60 years ago. Central’s mission and day-to-day decision-making puts the local agricultural economy and farms first and foremost when making decisions about water rights, storage and usage. Without new supplies of water, many farms in our region will not be able to stay in business.
Central’s system of reservoirs and aquifer storage are renewable water rights that ensure farmers and ranchers in our area have reliable access to water even during times
of drought.
Farms and ranches subscribe to Central’s different services and pay subscription and usage fees—in addition to taxes paid on their own land—to access this vital taxpayer-funded resource. Those fees, along with investments by taxpayers through bonds, provide access to water this summer and future dry periods to mitigate drought conditions.
Due to past investments in water rights and storage projects, Central was able to allocate a partial supply to its farmers and ranchers even in this exceptional drought.
Though insufficient, this supply will be instrumental in keeping land in production during this drought. Without future investments in water and infrastructure, Central will be limited in its ability to provide the water supply that is badly needed by our farmers and ranchers.
Protect Our Water is a project of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District that educates community members about Central’s efforts to secure and store water, ensuring this vital resource remains within the South Platte Basin in Adams, Weld, and Morgan counties and supporting farms and ranches throughout the region.