For Colorado's rivers, communities, and local economies . . .
Just Add Water.
Our Impact
Since 2001, Colorado Water Trust has restored...
26.7
Billion Gallons of Water
82,086
Acre-feet
814
Miles of Colorado's Rivers
Help us ensure Colorado has enough water for our rivers and our people
The mission of Colorado Water Trust is to restore water to Colorado's rivers.
We are a home-grown, statewide 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Since 2001, we’ve restored 26.7 billion gallons of water to 600 miles of rivers and streams across the state. We work collaboratively with our partners so that our projects benefit both the people we work with and our rivers.
Featured Projects
Upper Yampa River – Stagecoach Reservoir
Reservoir releases near Steamboat Springs, Colorado benefit multiple water users and the environment during periods of low flow in the Yampa River.
Little Cimarron River – McKinley Ditch
A groundbreaking split-season water sharing agreement between agriculture and the environment.
Colorado River – 15-Mile Reach
This project restores water to nearly 100 miles of the Colorado River, including the important 15-Mile Reach, home to threatened and endangered fish species, near Grand Junction.
Latest News & Stories
What's Happening
Big thanks to everyone who came out to our happy hour in Durango on Wednesday! It was a blast to connect with all of you and to learn more about all of the amazing water work going on in the area. 💦 🍻 #coloradowatertrust #justaddwater
Durango folks! Join us at Anarchy Brewing tonight for happy hour from 5:30-7. First drink is on us and we’ll have great snacks too.
Congratulations to our CU Boulder Master of the Environment (MENV) Graduate Consultants on a great presentation of their Urban Flows project last week! This project helps us gain a better understanding of how to protect and restore flows in more urban settings than we have historically operated in. Thank you Chelsea, Gisela, and Caleb for all of your hard work and for your dedication to Colorado’s rivers! #coloradowatertrust #justaddwater
Early giving for Colorado Gives Day is here 🎉 Join us in restoring water to Colorado’s rivers and make an impact today! Your gift helps us keep rivers flowing for the benefit of the environment and local communities. When our rivers flow strong, we are strong. Donate now at the link in our bio. 💦 #coloradowatertrust #justaddwater #coloradogivesday #waveofgenerosity
Last month, in partnership with Grand County Mutual Ditch & Reservoir Company and in coordination with Denver Water, we added water back to the Fraser River near Winter Park to support river health. 💦 These boosts help step down flows from summertime minimum flows to wintertime minimum flows to help fish adjust and ensure that they don’t get stranded as water levels drop. 🐟 #coloradowatertrust #justaddwater
Another @cowatertrust RiverBank in the books! 🎉 Thank you to all of our event sponsors, volunteers, and vendors, and to everyone who attended, for helping make it such a wonderful and fun evening - all in support of Colorado’s rivers. 🥂 #coloradowatertrust #justaddwater
Thank you silver RiverBank sponsors for helping us put together such a great event! 🎉 Get your tickets today, and we’ll see you next Tuesday! #coloradowatertrust #justaddwater
See you next week for RiverBank? 🎉 We’ve got an awesome lineup for the evening including a delicious dinner, open bar featuring craft cocktails from @drylanddistillers and beer from @oskarblues, a great live and silent auction, presentation on our work over the past year, and so much more! Get your tickets today at the link in our bio. #coloradowatertrust #justaddwater
Thank you to our Platinum and Gold RiverBank sponsors for helping make our annual event such a success! We hope to see you all next week at the Denver Botanic Gardens! Tickets on sale now from the link in our bio. 🎉 #coloradowatertrust #justaddwater
RiverBank is next Tuesday September 30th! Have you gotten your tickets yet?🥂There will be a delicious dinner, craft drinks, a little friendly auction competition, wine bottle toss, and more. 🎉 We’ll also present the David Getches Flowing Waters Award—a special moment you won’t want to miss. Get your tickets today (link in bio)! #coloradowatertrust #justaddwater
JUST PUBLISHED: The Water Report features Jasper Lake donation as a model for the West.
The Water Report, one of the premier publications on water policy in the West, has just published an article by Kate Ryan and Matt Moseley called “Just Add Water: The Jasper Lake Donation and a New Model for Water Conservation in the West.”
The authors write: “Over the past 25 years, the Colorado Water Trust has restored 27 billion gallons of water to 814 miles of rivers and streams throughout Colorado... In an era dominated by competing interests and escalating scarcity, the Jasper Lake donation offers a replicable path forward for other Western states grounded in cooperative frameworks, legal adaptability, and the kind of selfless generosity that serves the public interest.” Read the full story on our blog. #justaddwater #coloradowatertrust
Announcing our newest team member! We’re excited to welcome Karlyn Armstrong to the team as a Water Resources Specialist. Read our latest blog post to learn more about her and how she made her way to Colorado Water Trust. #coloradowatertrust #justaddwater
