South Platte/Metro Basin Plan

Basin Context:
The South Platte/Metro Basin is the most populous basin in the state. Approximately 85 percent of Colorado’s population resides in the South Platte Basin, and the Front Range area of the basin is Colorado’s economic and social engine. The basin also has the greatest concentration of irrigated agricultural lands in Colorado.

BIP Update Background & Next Steps:
Following on the heels of the release of the Colorado Water Plan in 2015, staff began working on the next update to the statewide water supply iniative or SWSI. The next SWSI effort was rebranded as the Analysis and Technical Update to the Colorado Water Plan (Technical Update) after gathering roundtable input and realizing that SWSI and the Basin Implementation Plans (BIPs) are core components of the Colorado Water Plan (Water Plan).

The South Platte/Metro Basin Roundtable's BIP was first developed prior to the release of the Water Plan and is being updated as part of the larger BIP and Colorado Water Plan (Water Plan) update. As with the other basins, the BIP is slated to be completed in 2021 and will fold into the Water Plan update that's scheduled for completion in 2022.

Like the Technical Update, the BIPs and Water Plan will follow a similar format of having a shorter more accessible Volume 1 strategy document and a longer Volume 2 document that will contain the original BIP and other supporting information.