![]() Results of the survey have been presented around the state, including the 2016 IBCC / Colorado Ag Water Alliance annual summit and the August, 2016 Colorado Water Congress meeting. In 2016, the Ag Water NetWORK conducted the first statewide survey of ag water right holders to better understand their opinions and concerns related to ag water leasing. ![]() Through leasing, ag water right holders maintain ownership of their water and land, but receive compensation for the water leased. The water plan refers to these leases between agriculture and other water interests as alternative transfer mechanisms (ATMs).ĪTMs enable producers to voluntarily lease a portion of their irrigation water for other uses, including municipal, industrial, recreational and to support aquatic life. It also sets a goal of 50,000 acre-feet of ag water to be leased annually to the municipal and industrial sectors. It recommends increased water conservation and storage as the primary means of meeting future water demands. ![]() The state water plan recognizes the economic, environmental and cultural value of Colorado's agriculture industry. This amount would represent over 1,000 square miles of irrigated farm and ranch land being permanently lost. ![]() Colorado's farms and ranches also supply open space and scenic beauty, wildlife habitat, groundwater recharge and other ecosystem services at no cost to citizens.Ĭolorado's Water Plan, which was released in November 2015, indicates that as much as 700,000 irrigated acres could be dried-up statewide by 2050 through the purchase and transfer of water rights from irrigated agriculture to urban areas. The Ag Water Network was created in 2015 by Colorado Cattlemen's Association and the Partners for Western Conservation to help 'keep agricultural water connected with agricultural land.' Water used by agriculture provides an abundance of food, fiber and fuel. ![]()
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