Click the link to read the release on the CWCB website:
March 19, 2026
Yesterday, at its March Board Meeting, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) approved more than $13 million in funding for 48 water projects across the state through its Water Plan Grant and Water Supply Reserve Fund programs, bringing the totals for the fiscal year to more than $40 million for 136 locally-driven projects across the state. These advance critical efforts to help communities be more prepared for drought and wildfires, improve water resilience, and secure Colorado’s water future.
“Organizations across the state are implementing these projects to do their part in moving Colorado’s Water Plan Partner Actions forward,” said CWCB Director Lauren Ris. “These locally driven efforts—from agricultural producers to municipalities to watershed groups—demonstrate a collective commitment to building a resilient, and water-wise future. The importance of this work is underscored by worsening drought conditions. We are putting efforts to protect water resources front and center.”
The funding reflects both the urgency of Colorado’s current water challenges and the overwhelming demand for resources. Funding requests far exceeded available dollars, highlighting the volume of high-impact projects ready for implementation across the state.
These investments are made possible through sports betting taxes in Colorado, a funding stream that continues to play a critical role in advancing Colorado’s water priorities.
“This level of demand for our Water Plan Grants shows just how much water users across Colorado rely on these investments,” said Colorado Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Dan Gibbs. “It also speaks to the incredible work happening on the ground to conserve water and build more resilient systems that will serve communities and our water resources for generations to come.”
Funded projects reflect key priorities of the Colorado Water Plan, including water conservation, wildfire resilience, and water storage. This includes projects focused on conserving water and improving efficiency, such as funding for new Water Efficiency Plans—an essential tool for long-term water supply planning—as well as initiatives like urban turf replacement, resilient school landscapes with smart irrigation, and comprehensive outdoor water budgeting.
The CWCB also continues to invest in projects that help communities prepare for wildfire impacts through watershed restoration and implementation of Wildfire Ready Action Plans, helping protect critical water resources from post-fire risks.
And in Colorado’s current warm, low-snowpack water year, investments in water storage are critical. Funding this grant cycle supports projects that increase or evaluate storage capacity—an essential strategy for capturing and managing water when supplies are limited. These efforts include feasibility studies and improvements to reservoirs and dams in communities across the state.
Finally, the Water Supply Reserve Fund grant investments this grant cycle includes projects such as post-fire diversion infrastructure improvements in Rio Blanco County and enhanced groundwater monitoring efforts in the South Platte Basin—both of which strengthen local water resilience and inform long-term water management.