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Water trust, ranch partner to bolster Crystal River

Sep 19, 2022 | Article, Division 5, Featured

Aspen Daily News, September 16, 2022, by Megan Webber The Colorado Water Trust and Cold Mountain Ranch in Carbondale implemented a project on Tuesday designed to bolster flows in the Crystal River. The water trust and ranch finalized a six-year agreement in early July...

Carbondale ranch, water trust launch 2nd effort to boost Crystal River flows

Aug 19, 2022 | Article, Division 5, Featured

Fresh Water News, August 17, 2022, by Olivia Emmer In July, Cold Mountain Ranch and the Colorado Water Trust penned an agreement they hope will improve the Crystal River’s streamflow in dry years. The contract compensates the Ranch owners, Bill Fales and Marj Perry,...

As Drought Hits Farms, Investors Lay Claim to Colorado Water

Aug 11, 2022 | Article, Statewide

The debate over how to treat water—as a public resource or an investment tool—is escalating as climate change accelerates the water crisis in the West. Michael Jones ducked under an idle sprinkler and strode across the sandy soil where he planned to plant...

From the Field: Willow Creek Update

Aug 4, 2022 | Blog, Division 5, Featured

Our project on Willow Creek was the first use of a Water Conservation Program created under Senate Bill 13-19. It conserves flows and protects the fishery in Willow Creek and the Colorado River by ceasing diversions at two irrigation ditches during certain low flow...

A Digital Future for Colorado’s Water

Aug 1, 2022 | Article, Division 5, Statewide

LEGAL CONTEXT Colorado uses a prior-appropriation system to assign the relative priorities of water rights. Water rights established earliest are assigned senior priorities relative to water rights established later. Priority is assigned to a water right when the...