Colorado Water Plan Grants

The purpose of the Water Plan Grant funding is to make progress on the critical actions identified in the Colorado’s Water Plan (CWP) and its Measurable Objectives. All applications will be assessed based on funds available for a particular CWP Measurable Objective category.

Water Plan Grant program funding categories include:

• Development of additional storage, artificial recharge into aquifers, and dredging existing reservoirs to restore the reservoirs’ full decreed storage capacity for multi-beneficial projects and those projects identified in basin implementation plans to address the water supply and demand gap.
• Technical assistance, project, or program funding for agricultural projects.
• Long-term strategies for conservation, land use, and drought planning.
• Water education, outreach, and innovation efforts.
• Environmental and recreational projects.

Please see CWP Grant Guidelines for more information about qualifying projects.

Who can apply?

• Governmental entities – municipalities, districts, enterprises, counties, and State of Colorado agencies. Federal agencies are encouraged to work with local entities.
• Covered Entities as defined in Section 37-60-126, C.R.S., are eligible if the applicant has adopted an approved water conservation plan.
• Private entities - mutual ditch companies, non-profit corporations, and partnerships.

How can the money be used?

Examples of eligible projects and activities:

• Technical assistance regarding permitting, feasibility studies, and environmental compliance.
• Studies or analysis of structural, programmatic, consumptive, and non-consumptive water projects or activities.
• Design of structural projects or activities.
• Activities that promote education, outreach, and innovation consistent with the mission and goals of the CWP.

How can I apply?

Submit all application materials in one email to: waterplan.grants@state.co.us in the original file formats (word or excel). Please do not combine documents. In the subject line, please include the funding category and name of the project.

Application Materials

CWP Grant Application (includes Engagement & Innovation Supplemental Application, and Grant Scope of Work Template) CWP Grant Budget & Schedule Template 

Examples of approved projects:

Agriculture

Colorado Master Irrigator:

Colorado Master Irrigator offers farmers and farm managers in the High Plains Aquifer region advanced training on conservation- and efficiency-oriented irrigation management practices and tools. Colorado Master Irrigator's interactive class format is designed to encourage peer-to-peer exchange among participants and instructors, helping forge useful contacts that graduates can reach out to after their participation in the program. Funding partners, in addition to CWCB, include Colorado State University, the United States Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Colorado Association of Conservation Districts, the Republican River Water Conservation District, and local businesses. Learn More

Food Asset Mapping & Water Conservation in the San Luis Valley:

Through this project, CWCB and Colorado State University, along with local partners, including the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition and the City and County of Denver are assessing the potential water conservation benefits and opportunities of linking urban food policies and programs with rural communities. The goal of the research initiative is to develop a better understanding of how coordinated market development in urban areas, and the availability of essential food infrastructure, may potentially assist with groundwater sustainability efforts in the San Luis Valley region. Learn More

Acequia Conservation Initiative:

The Acequia Conservation Initiative aims to strategically protect lands irrigated by acequias - shared irrigation canals and ditches - in the Culebra River watershed. CWCB, through a funding partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture, Sangre de Cristo Acequia Association, Colorado Open Lands, Great Outdoors Colorado, and local foundations, awarded financial support to provide cost-share to encourage water conservation, soil health, and wildlife habitat restoration. The initial phase of the initiative began in 2018 and is ongoing. Learn More

Conservation & Land Use

Colorado Growing Water Smart:
Colorado Growing Water Smart (CGWS) builds the capacity of local jurisdictions to plan and implement long-term strategies for the integration of land use and water planning. In partnership with CWCB, CO Department of Local Affairs, Northwest Colorado Council of Governments, Western Resource Advocates, and Keystone Policy Center, the Sonoran Institute and Lincoln Institute of Land Policy provide training, technical assistance, and other resources to communities that allow them to better understand current and future water supply and demand, the range of land use planning tools to align growth and development with forecasted water supplies, and engage and educate their community to build support for needed plans and policies.

Denver One Water Plan:
Denver’s One Water Plan (OWP) is an integrated land use and water resources plan initiated by the City and County of Denver with support from a wide variety of stakeholders. The OWP will serve as a unique and innovative approach to establishing policies around how the City manages its watersheds in a holistic manner. Currently, the City is experiencing unprecedented growth but has limited land use policies to help guide water decisions as demands increase. The OWP will set out a framework for collaboration and implementation of critically needed water conservation and alternative water resource policies that are coordinated with newly developed land use plans.

The Sustainable Water Solution:
This proposed pilot will enable Denver Water to measure water savings in new construction homes built with the Greyter HOME Solution, Phyn Plus, and Uponor Logic plumbing over a 12 month period. The outcomes of the project will provide local and state officials with information regarding water conservation, innovation, and education. The data will not only validate the water conservation capability of these technologies, but will educate Coloradans about water savings capabilities of graywater use, leak detection, structured plumbing, and real-time data into conservation efforts.

Engagement & Innovation

Water Legacy: Documenting Knowledge for Future Generations:

The goal of the Water Legacy Project is to interview key Colorado water professionals (who have retired or are close to retirement) to learn about their lives and careers. This includes capturing stories, insights, and information that may not be recorded or documented anywhere else. Partners include PHA and the Colorado State University Water Resources Archive.

Sandhill Crane Water Education and Engagement Project:

Thousands of visitors come to the San Luis Valley to watch the Sandhill Cranes migrate each spring and fall generating a significant amount of money injected into the local economy. Grant funds are being used to create water-related programming for the Monte Vista Crane Festival to engage visitors in water issues locally and statewide.

Environment & Recreation

Shady Island River Park Project:

The County plans to develop the Shady Island parcel to create riverside boat access, recreation amenities, improvements to riparian, wildlife and in-stream fish habitat. The goal of the proposed concept is to improve access to the Gunnison River for both boating and angling and restore riparian, stream and fisheries habitat. The Park also includes camping, picnic, play areas, and improved parking. Key areas along the shoreline shall be thinned of vegetation, allowing the bank to lay back, reducing the slope.
 

Telluride Valley Floor River Restoration Project:

This project removed and remediated the mine tailings and realigned 3,300 feet of San Miguel River. It restored a naturally functioning river system by removing toxic mine tailings and rerouting the river away from the tailings. It reconnects the river to its floodplain, establish critical habitat for cold-water fish and restore additional riparian habitat. 

Fish Creek Watershed Wildfire Protection Plan:

The City of Steamboat Springs and Mount Werner Water & Sanitation District received a Colorado Water Plan grant to develop a Critical Community Watershed Wildfire Protection Plan (CWP2) for the Fish Creek Basin. This plan looks before, during and after a wildfire to protect the critical drinking water water supply and infrastructure as well as overall watershed health. Learn More

Water Storage & Supply

Collaborative Storage Study

The Conejos Cooperative Project will implement and expand upon the recommendations of the Trujillo Meadows (ATM) project and investigate and select opportunities for development of additional storage and coordinated water operations to provide multiple benefits. An enlargement of Trujillo Meadows Reservoir, and/or construction of new storage on the San Antonio upstream of Antonito or a gravity conveyance from the Conejos River to the San Antonio River, coupled with coordinated operations with Platoro Reservoir, can provide multiple benefits to agricultural water rights holders on the Rio de Los Pinos and San Antonio rivers.

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