No & Low Regrets - Interbasin Compact Committee

Through the Interbasin Compact Committee (IBCC) and the Basin Roundtables Colorado's water leaders, planners, agriculture producers, local governments, and non-governmental organizations are coming together to set a vision that addresses Colorado's water challenges.

This multi-year effort to update the No & Low Regrets (NLR) Action Plan began in June 2025 when the IBCC reached consensus to begin creating a long-term vision for Colorado’s water future—one that focuses on the most pressing challenges and the greatest opportunities. We are at a critical juncture where decreasing precipitation, increasing temperatures, fires, aridification, and degrading soil health coupled with a growing population are creating an array of challenges. Finding solutions for these challenges will require new hard conversations and a commitment to collaboration.

The basis behind “No and Low Regrets” is to identify strategies that further the goal of protecting Colorado’s water supplies, creating resilience, supporting agriculture, and preserving environmental and recreational water needs effectively across all potential future scenarios.

This effort to update the NLR Action Plan will help the IBCC, basin roundtables, and CWCB Board shape a consensus-driven vision—one that identifies critical gaps, seizes emerging opportunities, and strengthens a shared understanding of the state’s water security over the next 10-15 years. The updated strategy will build on past work and set a trajectory for implementation throughout the three phases of statewide water planning.


Background

The NLR Action Plan was first released shortly before the 2013 executive order calling for a statewide water plan, and consequently its consensus-based themes and calls to action became foundational in shaping statewide water planning.

The NLR Action Plan was developed by the IBCC with input from the Basin Roundtables, and ultimately approved by the Colorado Water Conservation Board, and integrated into the Colorado Water Plan in 2015. Its strategies became integral components in the 2015 and 2022 Basin Implementation Plans, the 2023 Water Plan, and some of the key goals have become realities over the last decade or more; including finding dedicated funding for water projects, setting water conservation targets through legislation, and supporting environmental and recreational attributes for the benefit of ecosystems, local economies, and quality of life.

This effort to update the NLR Action Plan will help the IBCC, basin roundtables, and CWCB Board shape a consensus-driven vision—one that identifies critical gaps, seizes emerging opportunities, and strengthens a shared understanding of the state’s water security over the next 10-15 years. The updated strategy will build on past work and set a trajectory for implementation throughout the three phases of statewide water planning.

Through the Interbasin Compact Committee (IBCC) and the Basin Roundtables Colorado's water leaders, planners, agriculture producers, local governments, and non-governmental organizations are coming together to set a vision that addresses Colorado's water challenges.

This multi-year effort to update the No & Low Regrets (NLR) Action Plan began in June 2025 when the IBCC reached consensus to begin creating a long-term vision for Colorado’s water future—one that focuses on the most pressing challenges and the greatest opportunities. We are at a critical juncture where decreasing precipitation, increasing temperatures, fires, aridification, and degrading soil health coupled with a growing population are creating an array of challenges. Finding solutions for these challenges will require new hard conversations and a commitment to collaboration.

The basis behind “No and Low Regrets” is to identify strategies that further the goal of protecting Colorado’s water supplies, creating resilience, supporting agriculture, and preserving environmental and recreational water needs effectively across all potential future scenarios.

This effort to update the NLR Action Plan will help the IBCC, basin roundtables, and CWCB Board shape a consensus-driven vision—one that identifies critical gaps, seizes emerging opportunities, and strengthens a shared understanding of the state’s water security over the next 10-15 years. The updated strategy will build on past work and set a trajectory for implementation throughout the three phases of statewide water planning.


Background

The NLR Action Plan was first released shortly before the 2013 executive order calling for a statewide water plan, and consequently its consensus-based themes and calls to action became foundational in shaping statewide water planning.

The NLR Action Plan was developed by the IBCC with input from the Basin Roundtables, and ultimately approved by the Colorado Water Conservation Board, and integrated into the Colorado Water Plan in 2015. Its strategies became integral components in the 2015 and 2022 Basin Implementation Plans, the 2023 Water Plan, and some of the key goals have become realities over the last decade or more; including finding dedicated funding for water projects, setting water conservation targets through legislation, and supporting environmental and recreational attributes for the benefit of ecosystems, local economies, and quality of life.

This effort to update the NLR Action Plan will help the IBCC, basin roundtables, and CWCB Board shape a consensus-driven vision—one that identifies critical gaps, seizes emerging opportunities, and strengthens a shared understanding of the state’s water security over the next 10-15 years. The updated strategy will build on past work and set a trajectory for implementation throughout the three phases of statewide water planning.

  • No & Low Regrets - Storage (February & June 2026 IBCC Meeting)

    The June 2026 meeting marked a major step forward in advancing No & Low Regrets for the Storage topic. The IBCC advanced two key NLR statements and their underlying strategies, and one NLR concept that will be revisited throughout the process to determine where it fits best within the broader context of the NLR effort. These statements and the concept were documented in the June 2026 IBCC meeting minutes. Between the June and October IBCC meetings, the NLR Subcommittee advanced two additional NLR statements and their associated strategies for full IBCC review.

    NLR Finalization Process:

    The full IBCC membership will have touchpoints with each NLR topic at each of three consecutive IBCC meetings, as follows:

    (1) At the first meeting, the IBCC will have robust discussions on Topic 1.

    (2) At the second meeting, the IBCC will review draft NLR statements for Topic 1, while having in-depth conversations regarding Topic 2.

    (3) At the third meeting, the IBCC will establish consensus for NLR statements for Topic 1, review NLR statements for Topic 2, and have robust conversations about Topic 3.

    Between IBCC meetings the NLR Subcommittee will continue to advance NLR discussions and draft NLR statements.


    Consensus Storage No & Low Regrets from June 2026 Meeting

    1. NLR Statement: “Support the Rehabilitation of Aging Infrastructure”

    a. Explore policy, cross-agency, and/or legislative solutions to increase availability of funding for rehabilitation of existing storage infrastructure.

    b. Understand statewide needs and common criteria for prioritizing aging storage infrastructure projects.

    2. NLR Statement: “Identify Multi-Benefit Opportunities for Storage and Infrastructure Needs”

    a. Encourage partnership opportunities for development and operation of new and existing storage.

    3. “Overarching NLR Statement (not specific to storage topic): Recognition that healthy forests and watersheds protect storage, infrastructure, water supply, water quality, and the environment.”

    a. Consensus was reached on this statement but incorporation and strategies for this statement will be revisited at another time - likely during the watershed health and nature-based solutions discussions in 2027.

    Draft NLR Statements following Subcommittee Review ( Also reviewed by IBCC in October 2026)

    1. NLR: "Advance Regulatory and Permitting Efficiency for Water Infrastructure Projects"

    a. Explore state-level agency and legislative policy solutions to permitting and administrative challenges consistent with Colorado's Water Plan to support Colorado's future growth.

    b. Encourage cross-agency collaboration in updating the Water Supply Permitting Handbook (DNR) to reflect new regulatory developments and provide project proponents with best practices for navigating permitting processes.

    c. Explore potential statutory and administrative modifications in coordination with the appropriate Colorado State Agencies.

    2. NLR: “Explore State-level guidance and technical support for Water Supply Projects”

    a. Explore the need for state-level targeted technical assistance and administrative assistance with regulations and permitting processes.

    b. Explore options for a centralized funding and permitting platform that elevates water infrastructure projects across the state


    These statements will become final after review at 3 IBCC meetings, so the February 2027 meeting will finalize these statements.

    The June 2026 meeting marked a major step forward in advancing No & Low Regrets for the Storage topic. The IBCC advanced two key NLR statements and their underlying strategies, and one NLR concept that will be revisited throughout the process to determine where it fits best within the broader context of the NLR effort. These statements and the concept were documented in the June 2026 IBCC meeting minutes. Between the June and October IBCC meetings, the NLR Subcommittee advanced two additional NLR statements and their associated strategies for full IBCC review.

    NLR Finalization Process:

    The full IBCC membership will have touchpoints with each NLR topic at each of three consecutive IBCC meetings, as follows:

    (1) At the first meeting, the IBCC will have robust discussions on Topic 1.

    (2) At the second meeting, the IBCC will review draft NLR statements for Topic 1, while having in-depth conversations regarding Topic 2.

    (3) At the third meeting, the IBCC will establish consensus for NLR statements for Topic 1, review NLR statements for Topic 2, and have robust conversations about Topic 3.

    Between IBCC meetings the NLR Subcommittee will continue to advance NLR discussions and draft NLR statements.


    Consensus Storage No & Low Regrets from June 2026 Meeting

    1. NLR Statement: “Support the Rehabilitation of Aging Infrastructure”

    a. Explore policy, cross-agency, and/or legislative solutions to increase availability of funding for rehabilitation of existing storage infrastructure.

    b. Understand statewide needs and common criteria for prioritizing aging storage infrastructure projects.

    2. NLR Statement: “Identify Multi-Benefit Opportunities for Storage and Infrastructure Needs”

    a. Encourage partnership opportunities for development and operation of new and existing storage.

    3. “Overarching NLR Statement (not specific to storage topic): Recognition that healthy forests and watersheds protect storage, infrastructure, water supply, water quality, and the environment.”

    a. Consensus was reached on this statement but incorporation and strategies for this statement will be revisited at another time - likely during the watershed health and nature-based solutions discussions in 2027.

    Draft NLR Statements following Subcommittee Review ( Also reviewed by IBCC in October 2026)

    1. NLR: "Advance Regulatory and Permitting Efficiency for Water Infrastructure Projects"

    a. Explore state-level agency and legislative policy solutions to permitting and administrative challenges consistent with Colorado's Water Plan to support Colorado's future growth.

    b. Encourage cross-agency collaboration in updating the Water Supply Permitting Handbook (DNR) to reflect new regulatory developments and provide project proponents with best practices for navigating permitting processes.

    c. Explore potential statutory and administrative modifications in coordination with the appropriate Colorado State Agencies.

    2. NLR: “Explore State-level guidance and technical support for Water Supply Projects”

    a. Explore the need for state-level targeted technical assistance and administrative assistance with regulations and permitting processes.

    b. Explore options for a centralized funding and permitting platform that elevates water infrastructure projects across the state


    These statements will become final after review at 3 IBCC meetings, so the February 2027 meeting will finalize these statements.

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Page last updated: 11 Nov 2026, 03:29 PM