Water Plan Agency Action 2.6 - 10 Strategies to Protect Irrigated Agriculture

The Report

Agriculture is a critical component of Colorado's economy and has many subsequent impacts on other state values like open space and wildlife habitat. While the connection between agriculture and other economic sectors and rural quality of life is acknowledged, the intricacies of these relationships are rarely realized before the irreversible impacts of buy and dry are set in motion. Buy and dry acquisitions have irreversible impacts to not only the land, but the entire community in which they occur. Where there are changes to agriculture, especially when buy and dry occurs, there can be negative impacts on the local economy, ecosystem services (e.g., wetland habitat or food sources for wildlife), and recreation opportunities.

The Colorado Water Plan's Agency Action 2.6 - 10 Strategies to Protect Irrigated Agriculture report aims to help the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), local governments, and stakeholders assess the potential direct and indirect impacts of reducing irrigated agricultural acreage or converting agricultural land to urban or industrial use. This report details the primary and secondary impacts of agriculture on rural vitality, including economic outputs, jobs, tax revenue, quality of life, and impact of agriculture on environmental and recreational resources. The goal is to help CWCB, local governments, and stakeholders assesses the value that agriculture provides to our state and identifies strategies to actively protect this value. The report explores equitable solutions and strategies to help agriculture maintain existing and vulnerable supplies. The report could be used as guidance for creating multi-purpose projects to support both agricultural and environmental/recreational values.