In 2019, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) released an update of the state’s supply and demand projection data and tools underpinning Colorado’s Water Plan, known as the Analysis and Technical Update to the Water Plan (formerly the Statewide Water Supply Initiative, or "SWSI")
Additional Information
The Technical Update and its related insights and tools build on a nearly 15-year legacy of CWCB water supply planning initiatives that began with the first SWSI in 2004. The study leverages a 27-year investment in statewide water modeling efforts, which began in 1992. This Technical Update provides a significant improvement in the scope, science, and approach to water supply planning (in SWSI I, SWSI II, and SWSI 2010), and positions Colorado for a streamlined and robust evaluation of future water needs.
Primary Objectives:
- Provide a consistent statewide framework for examining future water supply and demand under different scenarios.
- Provide tools and data for Basin Roundtables to update their Basin Implementation Plans and develop detailed local solutions to supply and demand gaps.
The July 2019 CWCB Board and Interbasin Compact Committee joint meeting marked the preliminary release of the Technical Update. The final report was presented to the Board in September 2019. The full July presentation is available on the CWCB YouTube channel.
Follow the links below to download data supporting the Analysis and Technical Update to the Water Plan.
Study Overview and Population Methodology
Municipal and Industrial Methodologies
Agriculture Methodologies
Environment and Recreation Methodologies
Case Studies, Tools, and Next Steps
An Implementation Working Group was organized to help CWCB staff fine tune practical guidance following the Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) findings and Basin Implementation Plan updates.
December 18, 2018
January - Messaging and Communication
January 30, 2019
Statewide Water Education Action Plan: Presentation and Handout
February - Basin Plan Contracting and Project Database Inputs
February 19, 2019
March - Update Framework and Project Tier Matrix
March 19, 2019
April - Basin Plan Update Data, Strategies, and Methodologies
April 23, 2019
All-Chairs Update Call
May 13, 2019
May - Review of IWG Work Products
May 21,2019
June - IWG Wrap Up
June 25, 2019
The 2019 Technical Update replaces the document known as the Statewide Water Supply Initiative 2010 (SWSI), which can be accessed for reference on the CWCB's File Transfer Protocol site.