About Us
The Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District (District), a statutory organization, was founded in 1979 by a group of visionary water users and leaders for the purpose of protecting and securing water in the Upper Arkansas Valley. That same mission endures today for the protection of all water rights including municipal, agriculture, environment, industrial and recreation.
Today, our 13-member appointed board of directors, district officials, and staff bring a diverse range of experience and expertise to the District including water law, engineering, agriculture, economics, business, hydrology, recreation, and geology. We also participate and provide leadership on a variety of regional and statewide boards and legislative initiatives.
Our office is located in Salida, Colorado and our service area covers over 3,000 square miles which is substantially larger than any municipality in Colorado and includes Chaffee County, Custer County, Fremont County, and a small portion of Saguache and El Paso counties.
Today, our 13-member appointed board of directors, district officials, and staff bring a diverse range of experience and expertise to the District including water law, engineering, agriculture, economics, business, hydrology, recreation, and geology. We also participate and provide leadership on a variety of regional and statewide boards and legislative initiatives.
Our office is located in Salida, Colorado and our service area covers over 3,000 square miles which is substantially larger than any municipality in Colorado and includes Chaffee County, Custer County, Fremont County, and a small portion of Saguache and El Paso counties.
Our Primary Mission
- To acquire and preserve for present and future use all water rights available in the Upper Arkansas Valley, for use within the Valley, whether municipal, agricultural, industrial or domestic.
- To seek every possible means to increase the water supply available within the Upper Arkansas Valley.
Protecting Water, for the People
Growth in Colorado is an issue affecting everyone. It's no surprise that meeting water demands imposed by this growth presents a challenge to communities. In fact, estimates project the population within the Upper District service area to grow by 30% by 2040. That means water managers such as the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District are tasked with balancing the needs of diverse water users including agriculture, municipal, industrial, recreation, and the environment.
Our District plays a vital role in protecting water usage now and in the future by securing the Upper Arkansas River Valley's water supplies through our augmentation plan, legislative efforts, innovative projects, integrated water management practices, and education.
Our District plays a vital role in protecting water usage now and in the future by securing the Upper Arkansas River Valley's water supplies through our augmentation plan, legislative efforts, innovative projects, integrated water management practices, and education.
UNDERSTANDING PROTECTING WATER
The water district’s motto, “Protecting Water for the People”, pertains to protection of water rights not water per se. The right to acquire water for beneficial uses is embodied in the Colorado Constitution. This long established United States doctrine is known as Appropriation. Appropriation of land, mineral rights, or in Colorado’s case –water creates a private property right. In essence protecting water for the people could be stated as protecting private property rights. Sometimes protection of water rights is confused with the priority administration of water rights. Priority administration is the effort by the State of Colorado to administer water rights on various state streams and rivers in times of scarcity based on the date of the appropriation claim. The priority of the claim is based upon the date of the first action taken by an appropriator to divert and place water to beneficial use. The distinction between the Prior Appropriation Doctrine or simply the Appropriation Doctrine and Priority Administration is essential in understanding water rights in Colorado.
Our Operations
The work of the Upper District is somewhat unique in Colorado. We do not provide retail water sales to our customers, nor do we maintain the water distribution network of a typical municipal water utility. Instead, we provide for and administer augmentation water programs for citizens or other entities needing replacement water for water used out-of-priority to protect water rights in the Upper Arkansas Basin. We also manage and own several storage reservoirs, engage in ongoing engineering studies to better understand the water supply and needs within our service area, and collaborate with local and statewide partners to develop innovative tools and projects to fulfill our mission. Our Water Resources Management and Efficiency Plan highlights our commitment to efficient operations and the conservation of water within the Upper Basin.
