As a Colorado water right holder, have you reviewed the Colorado Division of Water Resources’ (DWR) abandonment list?  It is now available. Every 10 years, the DWR presents a list of water rights that the Division Engineer believes to have been “abandoned” to the water court. An abandoned right is[Read More…]

Do you know the origins of the water saying, “first in time, first in rights?” Do you now that one-acre foot of water equals 43,560 cubic feet or 325,850 gallons, about a football field covered in one foot of water?  What water rights perfection means? Maybe you just want to[Read More…]

By Guest Writer Phil Brink, Consulting Coordinator, Colorado Cattlemen’s Ag Water NetWORK (agwaternetwork.org) If farmers and ranchers use more efficient irrigation methods, won’t they use less water? This is a common question which stems from confusion between the terms ‘efficiency’ and ‘conservation’.   Conservation means using less water.  Efficiency refers to[Read More…]

This summer, like every summer, a cornucopia of Colorado grown foods are beginning to appear at grocery stores and farmers markets. Coloradoans will once again be biting into juicy Palisade peaches and ripe Rocky Ford cantaloupe. What is the primary ingredient of these delicious products?  Water. Cantaloupe and peaches are[Read More…]

As we end our trilogy on the who’s, why’s, and how’s of the “Land and Natural Resources Plan and Policy” (Plan) here in the Conservation Corner, you may be wondering, how is it used?   Since the Plan’s inception in 2016, it has been referenced numerous times on issues addressing “wild”[Read More…]

Welcome back to the Conservation Corner!  Last week we promised more about the Rio Blanco County Land and Natural Resources Plan and Policies (Plan) document.  You may be wondering “why is this important to me?” While the voice of one may be small, the documented voice of many is significant. [Read More…]