Demand Management Feasibility Investigation

Published 18:04 - 08/28/2020 Updated 18:35 - 03/31/2021

BACKGROUND

The Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) is a suite of agreements signed by the seven Colorado River Basin States in 2019, and designed to provide additional security to the Colorado River System. One element of the DCP in the Upper Basin is the Demand Management Storage Agreement, which provides authorization for the Upper Division States to develop a Demand Management program if they determine it is feasible to do so. Colorado has initiated a process to investigate feasibility of a potential Demand Management program within the state, on a parallel track to efforts at the interstate level.

This process follows the direction from the CWCB in the Support and Policy Statement adopted in November 2018, which led to the development of the fiscal year (FY) 2019/2020 Work Plan for the investigation of Demand Management, completed in June 2020, and then most recently the Step II Work Plan, now ongoing.

THE FRAMEWORK

As part of the current phase in the feasibility investigation, the CWCB has released a draft Framework with possible implementation options for if a program were to be set up. CWCB is currently seeking stakeholder and public feedback to help determine whether a Demand Management program would be worthwhile and advisable for Colorado. To submit feedback, please complete the survey below.

ENGAGEMENT & DECISION-MAKING PYRAMID

Learn more about Demand Management.
For more information, email demandmanagement@state.co.us.

BACKGROUND

The Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) is a suite of agreements signed by the seven Colorado River Basin States in 2019, and designed to provide additional security to the Colorado River System. One element of the DCP in the Upper Basin is the Demand Management Storage Agreement, which provides authorization for the Upper Division States to develop a Demand Management program if they determine it is feasible to do so. Colorado has initiated a process to investigate feasibility of a potential Demand Management program within the state, on a parallel track to efforts at the interstate level.

This process follows the direction from the CWCB in the Support and Policy Statement adopted in November 2018, which led to the development of the fiscal year (FY) 2019/2020 Work Plan for the investigation of Demand Management, completed in June 2020, and then most recently the Step II Work Plan, now ongoing.

THE FRAMEWORK

As part of the current phase in the feasibility investigation, the CWCB has released a draft Framework with possible implementation options for if a program were to be set up. CWCB is currently seeking stakeholder and public feedback to help determine whether a Demand Management program would be worthwhile and advisable for Colorado. To submit feedback, please complete the survey below.

ENGAGEMENT & DECISION-MAKING PYRAMID

Learn more about Demand Management.
For more information, email demandmanagement@state.co.us.

  • Demand Management Framework Feedback Survey

    Demand Management (DM) is the concept of temporary, voluntary, and compensated reductions in the consumptive use of water in the Colorado River Basin. Over the past year, the state has led a feasibility investigation to better understand whether a DM program is feasible from Colorado’s perspective. Initial engagement with the DM Workgroups emphasized the importance of having a program framework to test with stakeholders, so that input would be meaningful and targeted. 


    Now that the draft framework is available, we want to hear from you. The following survey asks questions that help us better understand statewide water users’ needs and interests. Your input will inform the CWCB Board’s decision- and policy-making. 

    Complete Form