The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) was created nearly 75 years ago to provide policy direction on water issues. The CWCB is Colorado’s most comprehensive water information resource. The agency maintains expertise in a broad range of programs and provides technical assistance to further the utilization of Colorado’s waters.

CWCB Mission Statement
To Conserve, Develop, Protect and Manage Colorado’s Water for Present and Future Generations

Governed by a 15-member Board, the CWCB’s responsibilities range from protecting Colorado’s streams and lakes to water conservation, flood mitigation, watershed protection, stream restoration, drought planning, water supply planning and water project financing. The CWCB also works to protect the state’s water apportionments in collaboration with other western states and federal agencies.

Each CWCB program is directed by the agency’s Strategic Framework, as well as through Statutory Authorities and Responsibilities. Reviewed annually by the Board, the Strategic Plan also contains a Board Member Work Plan, which guides the Board’s actions and helps implement the authorities and objectives of the CWCB.

Funding and Budget
The CWCB is almost fully self-funded. The agency does not receive any money from the General Fund. The majority of funding appropriations for the CWCB comes from the CWCB Construction Fund (referred to as “Cash Funds”). 

CWCB Sections
With more than 40 staff members, the CWCB functions under six major program areas:

1. Management
2. Finance & Administration
3. Interstate & Federal
4. Stream & Lake Protection  
5. Water Supply Planning
6. Watershed & Flood Protection

The CWCB and the Interbasin Compact Committee The CWCB supports the implementation of the Colorado Water for the 21st Century Act, which created the Interbasin Compact Committee (IBCC), with financial, technical and staff support. The CWCB ensures the proper coordination of CWCB information, policies and resources for each of the Basin Roundtables.

Additional Information CWCB Staff CWCB Board Members CWCB/IBCC Insider Document Search Strategic Framework  Organizational Chart  CWCB Funding

A Message from the CWCB Director
Welcome to the new and improved CWCB Website!

The CWCB’s mission is to conserve, develop, protect and manage Colorado’s water for present and future generations. Charged by statute to establish policy to address Colorado’s water issues, the CWCB is governed by a Governor-appointed citizen Board consisting of representatives from each of the eight major river basins, the City and County of Denver and several state agencies.

Since nearly all of Colorado’s water originates within its boundaries but is shared with other downstream states, the CWCB works to protect and assure that Colorado maintains its ability to fully use its allocation of the water under various agreements and court decrees.

This Website contains a wealth of information, including specifics about the CWCB’s varied and unique responsibilities: water project financing, water supply planning, water conservation and drought planning, flood protection, environmental protection through instream flows, and water information and modeling . You also will find information about CWCB Board members and staff; the bi-monthly Board meetings; past and present Board actions; reports issued by the Board; and much more.

We have worked hard to make our information more accessible, and I invite you to explore our new site. If you have any ideas for improvement, please let me know.

Thank you for visiting us.
Jennifer Gimbel
Director, Colorado Water Conservation Board