Two dwindling river basins, one solution: Pay farmers and ranchers to use less water

 Farmers and ranchers in two different river basins in Colorado are facing rapidly approaching deadlines to reduce their water use. The reductions are necessary to maintain interstate river agreements preserve underground water supplies.

The state wants to pay farmers and ranchers to stop irrigating some of their acreages to help keep more water in the ground. Gov. Jared Polis' budget proposal for next year includes $15 million of COVID relief funds to fund such a program.

These river basins have their own legal arrangements and are managed by different rules. State agriculture commissioner Kate Greenberg said the solution for both areas is fewer irrigated acres.

Greenberg said the northeastern region needs to stop irrigating 10,000 acres by the end of 2024 and a total of 25,000 acres by the end of 2029 to stay in compliance with the agreement. So far, only 3,000 acres have been retired, she said.

Farmers and ranchers in the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado also need to stop irrigating to preserve that region's aquifer, said Kevin Rein is the director of the Colorado Division of Water Resources...MORE