State & federal agencies Owns the water: sets and enforces the rules Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge North Platte U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuge south of Walden that manages wetlands and irrigated meadows along the headwater streams of the North Platte River. Bureau of Land Management Kremmling Field Office North Platte, Colorado Bureau of Land Management office managing public land across three regions of northwest Colorado, including North Park in Jackson County. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Statewide State health and environment department whose Water Quality Control Division sets stream standards and issues the discharge and stormwater permits governing what may enter Colorado's waters. Show 10 more ↓
Basin roundtables Plans ahead for their basin Arkansas Basin Roundtable Arkansas One of the nine basin roundtables created by the Colorado Water for the 21st Century Act to represent the Arkansas basin from the headwaters through Pueblo and the lower valley. It writes and maintains the basin implementation plan for its area, and any Water Supply Reserve Fund application from the basin must be approved by a roundtable before it reaches the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Colorado Basin Roundtable Colorado One of the nine basin roundtables created by the Colorado Water for the 21st Century Act to represent the Colorado River headwaters basin. It writes and maintains the basin implementation plan for its area, and any Water Supply Reserve Fund application from the basin must be approved by a roundtable before it reaches the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Gunnison Basin Roundtable Gunnison One of the nine basin roundtables created by the Colorado Water for the 21st Century Act to represent the Gunnison basin. It writes and maintains the basin implementation plan for its area, and any Water Supply Reserve Fund application from the basin must be approved by a roundtable before it reaches the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Show 6 more ↓
Conservancy & special districts Moves and manages water regionally Colorado River Water Conservation District Colorado, Gunnison, Yampa Public policy and water-management agency for 15 West Slope counties, leading protection and development of Colorado River basin water resources on behalf of the district's constituents. North Park Conservation District North Platte Conservation district for Jackson County under the Colorado State Conservation Board, promoting stewardship of rangeland, irrigated hay meadows, and forest health in North Park. Northern Water South Platte, Colorado Special district that captures supplemental water diverted from the Colorado River basin and delivers it to more than 1.1 million people and about 550,000 irrigated acres across eight northeastern Colorado counties. Show 4 more ↓
Water utilities Delivers water to the tap Aurora Water Metro, South Platte, Colorado, Arkansas Municipal utility for the City of Aurora delivering water, sewer, and stormwater service, with supply drawn from the South Platte, Colorado, and Arkansas basins. City of Fort Collins Utilities South Platte, Colorado Community-owned municipal utility delivering electric, water, wastewater, and stormwater service to more than 75,000 Fort Collins customers, drawing about half its treated water from the Cache la Poudre River and about half from the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. City of Greeley Water & Sewer South Platte, Colorado Municipal water and wastewater department for Greeley, Colorado, supplied historically by the Cache la Poudre River (South Platte basin) and by the Colorado-Big Thompson and Windy Gap transbasin diversion projects. Show 3 more ↓
Watershed groups & nonprofits Does the restoration and monitoring work Barr Lake and Milton Reservoir Watershed Association South Platte, Metro Watershed association for Barr Lake and Milton Reservoir, whose water arrives chiefly on the South Platte River running through Denver rather than from local tributaries. Big Dry Creek Watershed Association South Platte, Metro Association formed in 1997 by the governments discharging to Big Dry Creek, which monitors water quality along the creek and at the three municipal wastewater treatment plants on it. Cherry Creek Stewardship Partners Metro Voluntary partnership of local governments, agencies, and residents coordinating education and stewardship across the Cherry Creek basin, from the Palmer Divide to the creek's confluence with the South Platte in Douglas, Arapahoe, and Denver counties. Show 9 more ↓
Municipal governments Represents local land use and residents City and County of Broomfield Metro Founding member government of the Big Dry Creek Watershed Association, which runs its own Water Recovery Laboratory and discharges treated wastewater to Big Dry Creek. City of Northglenn Metro Founding member government of the Big Dry Creek Watershed Association, whose wastewater treatment plant discharges all of its effluent to the Bull Canal. City of Thornton South Platte, Metro Member government on the Big Dry Creek Watershed Association board; the Thornton Water Project draws the city's long-term supply from the Cache la Poudre basin in Larimer and Weld counties. Show 2 more ↓
Tribal nations Holds and manages sovereign water rights Southern Ute Indian Tribe Southwest Federally recognized tribal nation in southwestern Colorado whose Water Resources Division manages the Tribe's surface and groundwater rights. Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Southwest Federally recognized tribal nation whose reservation spans southwestern Colorado, and whose Environmental Programs Department runs the Tribe's drinking-water and wastewater systems.
Research & technical partners Supplies data and technical work Colorado Water Center Statewide Colorado State University center, one of 54 water resources research institutes created by the federal Water Resources Act of 1964, coordinating water research and education across the state.
Programs & funding Pays for the work and runs the shared programs Colorado Healthy Rivers Fund Statewide Statewide fund created by the General Assembly in 2002 and financed by the Colorado income tax refund check-off, supporting on-the-ground projects for cleaner water, healthier habitat, and improved recreation. Colorado Water Plan Statewide Colorado Water Conservation Board's statewide framework for collaborative water planning, conservation, development, and resilience, adopted by the Board in January 2023. Colorado Water Plan Grant Program Statewide Colorado Water Conservation Board grant program supporting multi-benefit projects aligned with the Colorado Water Plan. Show 6 more ↓