Demand Management
Colorado is currently investigating the feasibility of a potential Demand Management program for the state. Demand Management is the concept of temporary, voluntary, and compensated reductions in the consumptive use of water in the Colorado River Basin. Each of the Upper Colorado River Basin States are conducting their own investigations to determine whether a potential program would be feasible in their states as well.
This process follows the direction from the Board in the Support and Policy Statements adopted in November 2018, which led to the 2019 Work Plan, and then the most recent Step II Work Plan approved in November 2020.
For more background information, view the Demand Management Frequently Asked Questions sheet or watch the introduction video.
In March 2021, CWCB released the first draft Demand Management Framework, a matrix of options - of Elements of Feasibility - for what a potential program could look like if set up. Included below are various identified threshold issues by category. To review implementation options, equity considerations, and other details, see the full matrix.
Elements of Feasibility by Category
Threshold issues, or Elements of Feasibility, are broken down into two sections for this category: Agricultural and Transmountain.
Agricultural Projects:
- Measure water returned to stream
- Conduct a consumptive use analysis
- Estimate the residual field consumptive use
- Maintain return flows
Transmountain Projects:
- Measure water returned to stream
- Verify conserved consumptive use occurs on East Slope
All Projects:
- Coordinate environmental and other benefits
Threshold issues, or Elements of Feasibility in this category include:
- Water education to engage broad audiences
- Stakeholder engagement to inform the program
- Program marketing to ensure participation
Threshold issues, or Elements of Feasibility in this category include:
- How potential environmental benefits and impacts are considered
- Assessing net benefit or impact
- Strategies to incentive benefits
- Strategies to avoid, offset, or mitigate any negative impacts
Threshold issues, or Elements of Feasibility in this category include:
- Support for municipal participants
- Municipal sector mitigation
- Consultation with local governments to track impacts and develop mitigation measures
Threshold issues, or Elements of Feasibility in this category include:
- Agricultural sector mitigation
- Agricultural participant field requirements
- Agricultural participant assistance
Threshold issues, or Elements of Feasibility in this category include:
- Soliciting projects
- Application requirements
- Project selection process
- Localization and program evolution
Threshold issues, or Elements of Feasibility in this category include:
- Range of annual costs
- Funding sources
Public Engagement Process
The CWCB is committed to a transparent and robust public engagement process to seek feedback on the draft Framework. Workshops and listening sessions will be scheduled over Spring and Summer 2021, and details will be posted in the “Upcoming Meetings” chart below. CWCB also encourages interested parties and individuals to take the public survey on engagecwcb.org after reviewing the Framework.
Upcoming Meetings
All meetings listed below are intended for various stakeholders and other interested parties to discuss and provide input on the draft Demand Management Framework. Details will be updated as information becomes available. To RSVP to a meeting below, email demandmanagement@state.co.us with your name, organization and title, and which meetings you would like to join.
| MEETING DATE | TOPIC | AGENDA | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 20, 2021 (12:00pm) | Economic & Local Governments Workgroup | Agenda |
Virtual |
| April 21, 2021 (10:30am) | Funding Workgroup | Agenda | Virtual |
| April 22, 2021 (10:00am) | Agricultural Impacts Workgroup | Agenda | Virtual |
| April 26, 2021 (2:00pm) | Environmental Considerations Workgroup | Agenda | Virtual |
| April 30, 2021 (12:00pm) | Monitoring & Verification Workgroup | Agenda | Virtual |
| May 3, 2021 (1:30pm) | Education & Outreach Workgroup | Agenda | Virtual |
| May 11, 2021 (2:00pm) | Rio Grande Basin Roundtable | Agenda | Virtual |
| May 11, 2021 (4:00pm) | South Platte Basin Roundtable | Agenda | Virtual |
| May 12, 2021 (12:30pm) | Arkansas Basin Roundtable | Agenda | Virtual |
| May 12, 2021 (6:00pm) | Yampa-White-Green Basin Roundtable | Agenda | Virtual |
| May 13, 2021 (3:00pm) | Metro Region Roundtable | Agenda | Virtual |
| May 17, 2021 (4:00pm) | Gunnison Basin Roundtable | Agenda | Virtual |
| May 17, 2021 (3:00pm) | North Platte Basin Roundtable | Agenda | Virtual |
| May 24, 2021 (12:00pm) | Colorado Basin Roundtable | Agenda | Virtual |
|
June 1, 2021 (1:00pm) |
Public Workshop: Monitoring & Verification, Environmental Impacts | Agenda | Virtual |
|
June 14, 2021 (11:30am) |
Public Workshop: Agricultural Impacts, Local Governments & Economics | Agenda | Virtual |
| June 14, 2021 (1:30pm) |
Public Workshop: Process, Education & Outreach | Agenda | Virtual |
|
June 29, 2021 (5:00pm) |
Demand Management Framework Public Listening Session | Details | Virtual |
Resources
- Introduction to Demand Management & Framework Video
- Framework Matrix (March 2021 Draft)
- Press release on Framework release (March 31, 2021)
- Demand Management: Frequently Asked Questions
- Step II Work Plan (November 2020)
- July 2020 Update
- March 2020 Joint Interbasin Compact Committee & Demand Management Report
- Director Rebecca Mitchell's January 2020 Update
- 2019 Work Plan for Demand Management Feasibility Investigation
- Colorado River Compact Administration
Contact
With questions or for more information, email demandmanagement@state.co.us.