Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District

What Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District does

Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District (UAWCD) is a statutory Colorado water conservancy district established in 1979 by court decree under the Water Conservancy District Act of 1937, headquartered in Salida, Colorado. The district operates across the Upper Arkansas Valley (Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, El Paso, and Saguache counties within Water Division 2) with a small staff of 7 plus legal counsel and consulting engineers. UAWCD's core function is administering a court-approved umbrella augmentation plan that provides replacement water to over 2,000 wells at a cost of less than $4,500 per residence, versus $80,000-$150,000 for individual augmentation plans, enabling compliance with Colorado's prior appropriation doctrine and protecting senior water rights.

The district's technical platform centers on an automated telemetry network of 16 stream gages and 9 reservoir gages providing real-time hydrologic data, supplemented by 5 CoAgMet agricultural weather stations, an online water resources portal, and customer-facing account management and meter-reading tools. UAWCD has expanded into below-ground alluvial aquifer storage (Trout Creek Park recharge pond, 2016), watershed and forest health programs (Monarch Pass Forest and Watershed Health Project with the Colorado Water Conservation Board), irrigation scheduling via a soil moisture network, and a freely-available Lease Fallowing Tool for agricultural water transfers. Education and outreach includes the Water Talks podcast, annual Water Fest events, and newspaper columns.

UAWCD's revenue model combines recurring augmentation service fees (subscription billing for well enrollment), property tax revenue derived from statutory taxing authority, and grants/partner contributions for specific projects (e.g., CWCB, NRCS, USFS, Colorado Springs Utilities, and Pueblo Board of Water Works). Customer segments span residential well owners (vast majority of wells), agricultural water right holders, municipal providers (Salida, Buena Vista, Canon City, Poncha Springs, Westcliffe), and commercial/industrial enterprises (notably Nestle Waters Ruby Mountain Springs). The district is governed by an appointed Board of Directors representing divisions across the five counties, with General Manager Ralph (Terry) Scanga, Jr. — a founding member — leading day-to-day operations since inception.

Name

Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District

Legal name

Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District

Website

https://uawcd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District is a statutory Colorado water conservancy district administering a court-approved umbrella augmentation plan covering over 2,000 wells across the Upper Arkansas Valley, while operating a 25-station telemetry monitoring network and watershed health programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Resource Management

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE), Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Water augmentation services
• Water rights management
• Watershed conservation
• Hydrological monitoring
• Water resource planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Salida

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Augmentation Service Fees: UAWCD charges fees for enrollment in their blanket augmentation plan. Cost per residence is less than $4,500 compared to $80,000-$150,000 for individual augmentation plans, providing significant cost savings to district citizens
2. Property Tax Revenue: As a conservancy district established under the Water Conservancy District Act of 1937, UAWCD has taxing authority to derive revenues necessary to accomplish its purposes
3. Water Infrastructure Management: Maintenance and operation of water infrastructure including reservoirs, diversion structures, and telemetry stations that support recreation and environment

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District is a statutory water conservancy district that administers blanket augmentation plans to provide replacement water for out-of-priority well users, protects senior water rights, and operates telemetry-based monitoring infrastructure across the Upper Arkansas Valley. The District serves residential well owners, agricultural users, commercial/industrial entities, and municipalities with court-approved augmentation services, water conservation programs, watershed health projects, and alluvial aquifer storage.

Product overview

Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District operates a comprehensive water resource management platform consisting of telemetry-based monitoring systems and customer-facing online services. The core infrastructure includes 16 stream gages and 9 reservoir gages across an automated telemetry network, complemented by 5 CoAgMet agricultural weather stations. The district provides water customers with an online portal for account management and meter readings, while operating a blanket augmentation plan protecting over 2,000 wells. Educational offerings include the Water Talks podcast and annual Water Festival. Special projects include the Trout Creek Alluvial Storage (below-ground aquifer storage) and the Lease Fallowing Tool for agricultural water transfers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Blanket Augmentation Plan Court-approved umbrella augmentation plan that provides replacement water for residential, commercial, and industrial wells to protect senior water rights under Colorado's prior appropriation doctrine, currently serving over 2,000 wells.
• Water Conservation Program Program providing water conservation guidelines, applications, and resolutions to help landowners, municipalities, and water users conserve and manage water resources within the district.
• Trout Creek Alluvial Storage Project Below-ground water storage project utilizing alluvial aquifer recharge at Trout Creek Park, offering storage capacity with minimal evaporation, reduced costs, and minimized environmental impacts compared to surface storage.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cost savings of $75,000 to over $145,000 per residential well through blanket augmentation plan
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018CWCB awarded $403,739 (plus over $500,000 in additional funding) for the Monarch Pass Forest and Watershed Health Project. CWCB also funds water supply studies and the Trout Creek Alluvial Storage pilot project. The partnership supports basin-wide water planning through the Colorado Water Plan.
• Arkansas River Watershed Collaborative (ARWC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partnership for Hayden Pass Fire and Flood Recovery efforts. ARWC received grant funding from CWCB to support fire recovery coordinator, hydrologist, and engineer positions for coordinating recovery efforts in the Big Cottonwood drainage area.
• Pueblo Board of Water WorksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial contributor of $50,000 to the Monarch Pass Forest and Watershed Health Project
• Colorado Springs UtilitiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial contributor of $50,000 to the Monarch Pass Forest and Watershed Health Project
• Trout UnlimitedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial contributor of $13,000 to the Monarch Pass Forest and Watershed Health Project
• Chaffee CountyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial contributor of $48,000 to the Monarch Pass Forest and Watershed Health Project
• City of SalidaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial contributor of $20,869 to the Monarch Pass Forest and Watershed Health Project
• Town of Poncha SpringsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial contributor of $10,000 to the Monarch Pass Forest and Watershed Health Project
• U.S. Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSFS is implementing fuels mitigation project on 3,000 acres of beetle-kill at Monarch Pass. UAWCD joined to secure funding for 600 acres on steep slope terrain. USFS signed a 5-year stewardship agreement and is developing fuels treatment plan.
• Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRCS awarded Emergency Watershed Protection grant to Fremont County for protecting private property along Big Cottonwood following Hayden Pass fire. UAWCD assists with complementary efforts.
• Bureau of Land ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Grape Creek/DeWeese Efficiency Study along with DeWeese-Dye Ditch and Reservoir Company. BLM provides support for irrigation system efficiency improvements.
• DeWeese-Dye Ditch and Reservoir Company (DDDRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative partnership for DeWeese Irrigation System Efficiency and Improvement Study to upgrade irrigation efficiencies, enhance Grape Creek stream health, and improve water management.
• Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy DistrictminorOthersPartner Arkansas Basin water conservancy district for regional water coordination
• Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy DistrictminorOthersPartner Arkansas Basin water conservancy district for regional water coordination
• Arkansas River Basin Water ForumminorOthersUAWCD board and staff have been involved since inception and continue to sit on planning committee for the annual Arkansas River Basin Water Forum
• Arkansas River Basin RoundtablecoreOthersUAWCD participates in basin roundtable for Colorado Water Plan implementation and water supply planning
• Greater Arkansas River Nature Association (GARNA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for water education events including Awesome Aquifers activities for local schools and annual Water Fest celebrations
• Foodshed AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Water Fest events held in conjunction with Salida and Buena Vista Farmers Markets
• Central Colorado ConservancyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst local non-profit to provide Letter of Support and volunteer hours for Monarch Pass project

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Southwestern Water Conservation District: Colorado conservancy district administering augmentation plans, water rights protection, and watershed programs in the San Juan/Dolores basin — comparable statutory authority, augmentation franchise, and reliance on real-time hydrologic monitoring.
• Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District: A fellow Colorado conservancy district under the Water Conservancy District Act of 1937, operating in the same Arkansas River Basin (lower reach) and administering augmentation, water rights, and irrigation efficiency programs for a comparable set of agricultural, municipal, and industrial stakeholders.
• Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District: Statutory Colorado water conservancy district providing augmentation, water storage, and resource management services to municipalities, irrigators, and industrial users in the Arkansas Basin — directly comparable governance structure, funding mechanism (taxing authority), and service portfolio.
• San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District: Colorado conservancy district administering subdistrict recharge and augmentation programs in the San Luis Valley — directly comparable augmentation-administration business and statutory authority to UAWCD.
• Rio Grande Water Conservation District: Colorado conservancy district managing augmentation, irrigation efficiency improvements, and groundwater-substitution programs in the Rio Grande Basin — closely analogous in scale, statutory powers, and operational mandate to UAWCD.
• Colorado River Water Conservation District: One of the largest Colorado conservancy districts, providing augmentation, water rights, and watershed services on the Western Slope — broader geographic scope but highly comparable statutory and operational model to UAWCD.

Broad incumbents

• Denver Water: The largest water utility in Colorado, serving 1.5 million people across the Denver metro — overlaps with UAWCD in trans-basin water management, hydrologic monitoring, and watershed protection, but at vastly greater scale and with a municipal rather than conservancy-district governance structure.
• Pueblo Board of Water Works: Municipal water utility for Pueblo, CO and a UAWCD partner on trans-mountain imports (~73,000 acre-feet/year combined with Pueblo West) — comparable end-market overlap in the lower Arkansas Valley but a much larger balance sheet and traditional utility operating model.
• Colorado Springs Utilities: Large investor-owned-equivalent municipal utility serving Colorado Springs with water, wastewater, electric, gas, and transit — an established incumbent with far broader portfolio and customer scale, but overlapping water-supply and trans-mountain-import responsibilities in the Arkansas Basin.

Others

• Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB): State agency that funds UAWCD's Monarch Pass and Trout Creek projects and drives Colorado Water Plan implementation — not a competitor but a key regulatory/funding counterpart and policy-setting entity whose decisions materially shape UAWCD's operating environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/upper-arkansas-water-conservancy-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District