The CWCB acquires water, water rights and interests in water to preserve and improve the natural environment of streams and lakes in the state. The Water Acquisition Program is a voluntary program that allows water rights' owners to donate, sell, lease or loan existing decreed water rights to the CWCB on a permanent or temporary basis. The CWCB can acquire water by purchase, bequest, donation, lease, exchange or any other contractual agreement. The CWCB cannot acquire water rights by eminent domain or force an individual to convey a water right to the CWCB for instream flow purposes.

Water Acquisition Process
The CWCB currently receives several offers of water rights for ISF use via donation, purchase, lease or loan each year. Water acquisition proposals can be considered at any time during the year. Each water acquisition transaction is unique, and the particular terms and conditions are included in a separate agreement that is developed by the proponent and CWCB staff. The CWCB has 120 days to respond to the proposal. Individuals interested in learning more about the water acquisition process are encouraged to contact the CWCB staff.

Proposed Acquisitions: ­

• Ute Water Conservancy District - Colorado River
• Boulder County - St. Vrain Creek 
• McKinley Ditch - Little Cimarron & Cimarron Rivers 

 

 

Completed Transactions

Additional Information Water Right Acquisition Preliminary Investigation Checklist Temporary Loans and Leases of Water Rights for Instream Flows Colorado River Cooperative Agreement – Fraser River, Colorado River, Williams Fork River, and Their Tributaries Breem Ditch – Washington Gulch and Slate River ­ Gabino Gallegos Ditch – Alamosa River Valdez Ditch - Alamosa River Completed Transactions

Examples of Acquisitions

The Nature Conservancy has made several water right donations to the CWCB over the years including a 300 cubic feet per second senior water right to protect flows through 29 miles of the Gunnison River (includes the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument). The City of Boulder donated valuable senior water rights to the CWCB to maintain instream flows in Boulder Creek through the city. The Colorado Water Trust, a private non-profit conservation group, purchased and conveyed a water right to the CWCB to preserve and improve the natural environment of Boulder Creek and the Blue River, a Gold Medal Fishery in Summit County.