Agency History
About the Colorado Water Conservation Board
Established by the Colorado Legislature in 1937, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) was created to “aid in the protection and development of the waters of the state” — a mission that has guided Colorado’s water policy for more than 85 years. Over its history, the CWCB has evolved from a focus on water development and defense of Colorado’s water rights to a broader role that includes conservation, watershed protection, drought planning, flood mitigation, water supply planning, and collaborative statewide water policy.
Today, the CWCB is the state’s primary water policy agency, serving as a resource for technical assistance, planning, and funding to ensure Colorado’s waters benefit present and future generations.
The CWCB is proud to participate in Colorado’s America 250 – Colorado 150 celebration, commemorating 150 years of statehood and 250 years of American independence.
The CWCB’s Historical Timeline:
- 1937 — CWCB Created: The Colorado Legislature passes House Bill No. 6, establishing the CWCB to protect and develop the state’s water resources. The first board meets July 13, 1937.
- 1937 — Water Conservancy District Law: The same legislative session enabled the creation of the Water Conservancy District Law, which paved the way for the creation of Northern Water later in the year.
- 1937 — Colorado River Water Conservation District authorized by legislation.
- Major federal water infrastructure projects: during the 1940’s, several critical projects reshaped Colorado’s water system, most notably construction and early operation of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, including Granby Dam, Green Mountain Reservoir, Shadow Mountain Reservoir, and the Alva B. Adams Tunnel, with the first transmountain water deliveries reaching the Front Range in 1947.
- 1942 — Republican River Compact signed by the states of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. The CWCB played a central role in negotiating and administering the compact, helping protect Colorado’s Republican River water uses through interstate coordination.
- 1949 — Ratification of the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact formally divided Colorado River water among the Upper Basin states, setting the foundation for the CWCB’s ongoing responsibility to protect Colorado’s interests through interstate coordination and compact administration. Colorado's main negotiator on this was CWCB's first Director Clifford Stone.
- Post-WWII Water Development: CWCB supports major infrastructure planning and state involvement in large water projects (often in partnership with federal agencies). (Many of the early CWCB efforts centered around statewide planning and defending Colorado’s interests across basins.)
- Continuing litigation: In the 1950s, CWCB led Colorado’s efforts in interstate water litigation and compact negotiations with neighboring states to clarify and secure the state’s available water supplies.
- 1956 — Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) authorized, championed by Rep. Wayne Aspinall, including the Aspinall Unit and Blue Mesa Reservoir. The CWCB helped represent Colorado’s interests in planning and development of CRSP facilities critical to meeting Upper Basin compact obligations.
- State law and water rights evolution: Colorado’s statewide water policy continues to mature amid broader changes in water rights administration. CWCB develops statewide hydrologic and water-use information to strengthen Colorado’s position in interstate negotiations and interactions with federal agencies.
- 1962 — President John F. Kennedy announces the Fryingpan–Arkansas Project. The CWCB supported project authorization and long-term planning efforts to advance the transmountain diversion and protect Colorado’s water interests during federal development.
- 1968 — National Wild and Scenic River Act signed into law. Paved the way for the CWCB Wild and Scenic Rivers Fund.
- Environmental movement influence: The CWCB begins new statutory programs in response to evolving public and legislative priorities.
- 1971 – CWCB Construction Fund begins and establishes funding mechanism for water projects.
- 1972 — Water Project Loan Program: CWCB’s low-interest loan program launches, to provide financing for locally sponsored water infrastructure projects.
- 1973 — Instream Flow Law: The Legislature authorizes CWCB to appropriate and hold instream flow (ISF) water rights to preserve natural environments in streams and lakes, starting the agency’s long-running Instream Flow Program.
- 1973 — Endangered Species Recovery Act signed into law.
- 1985 — Natural Streambed and Lake Protection Act: Colorado passed the Natural Streambed Act, giving the CWCB a formal role in reviewing and protecting streambeds and lake beds claimed as private property.
- 1988 — First key floodplain rules established by CWCB to guide flood management.
- 1988 — Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program initiated. The CWCB serves as a long-standing partner in the Recovery Program, helping integrate species recovery with ongoing water development and compact compliance.
- 1990 — Fryingpan - Arkansas Project completed.
- 1991 — San Juan River Recovery Program implemented by MOU between Interior, the states of New Mexico and Colorado, and the Jicarilla Apache, Southern Ute, Ute Mountain Ute, and Navajo Tribes.
- 1995 — Colorado Severance Tax Trust Fund, which includes the Perpetual Base Account, established.
- 1998 — Species Conservation Trust Fund begins (supports native species and habitat conservation).
- 2005 — Water for the 21st Century Act: Expands collaborative basin-roundtable processes and directs the Interbasin Compact Committee (IBCC), strengthening statewide water planning.
- 2006 — Water Supply Reserve Fund: established by Colorado Senate Bill 06-179 to help fund critical water supply and management projects in the state's river basins.
- 2007 — Platte River Recovery Program begins. The CWCB represents Colorado in the multi-state program, supporting habitat recovery while securing regulatory certainty for existing and future water uses.
- 2009 — Colorado General Assembly created the Wild and Scenic Rivers Fund.
- 2013 — By executive order, CWCB is directed to lead development of the first Colorado Water Plan.
- 2014 — First Basin Implementation Plans completed (local water planning pieces feeding into the statewide plan).
- 2015 — Colorado Water Plan: The CWCB finalizes and releases the original statewide plan for future water supply and demand.
- 2017 — Water Plan Grants: The Water Plan Grant Program was launched to fund critical water projects across the state to support the Water Plan.
- 2023 — Updated Colorado Water Plan: CWCB launches the 2023 updated Water Plan reinforcing collaborative planning and resilience.
- 2025 — Water Plan Progress: The CWCB releases the 2-year Progress Report for the Water Plan, marking on-track, 20% progress on the 10-year plan.
- Focus on the future: In the coming decades, the CWCB aims to safeguard Colorado’s water supplies amid climate change, population growth, and hydrologic uncertainty by advancing conservation, innovation, and basin-driven, multi-benefit solutions.
- Clifford Stone: 1937 - 1953
- Ivan Crawford: 1953 - 1958
- Felix Sparks: 1958 - 1979
- J. William McDonald: 1979 - 1990
- David Walker: 1990 - 1992
- Daries Charles Lile: 1992 - 1998
- Peter Evans: 1998 - 2000
- Rod Kuharich: 2000 - 2007
- Jennifer Gimbel: 2008 - 2013
- James Eklund: 2013 - 2017
- Becky Mitchell: 2017 - 2023
- Lauren Ris: 2023 - Present