Colorado Water Conservation Board
The Colorado Water Conservation Board is a Colorado state agency that administers water rights, funds water infrastructure projects through grants and loans, coordinates drought response, and implements the Colorado Water Plan across the state's nine river basins for agricultural, municipal, environmental, and recreational users.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1937
- HeadquartersDenver, CO, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Colorado Water Conservation Board does
The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) is a Colorado state government agency established in 1937 by the Colorado Legislature, operating within the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Its statutory mission is to conserve, develop, protect, and manage Colorado's water for present and future generations. The agency administers water rights, implements the Colorado Water Plan, manages interstate compact compliance (notably on the Colorado River), runs the Instream Flow Program, and coordinates drought response. It also functions as the state's primary water-infrastructure funder, operating the Water Project Loan Program (low-interest loans for agricultural, municipal, and hydro projects), Water Plan Grants, Water Supply Reserve Fund Grants, Projects Bill Grants ($1M-$10M range, typically matching-funded), and basin-level funding mechanisms.
CWCB coordinates with nine basin roundtables (Arkansas, Colorado, Gunnison, Metro, North Platte, Rio Grande, South Platte, Southwest, Yampa-White-Green) and the Interbasin Compact Committee to cover all 64 Colorado counties. Its technology infrastructure is focused on data aggregation and public transparency: the Snowpack Assessment Viewer (SNODAS), the Water Conditions Monitoring Committee (which integrates Colorado State University's Climate Center and NRCS snow survey data), and the newly launched Water Funding Explorer (November 2025) provide interactive visualizations of funding flows, snowpack conditions, and water supply metrics.
As a state agency, CWCB does not generate revenue in the commercial sense; its operating budget is funded through legislative appropriations, and it disburses grants and loans from state sources including the Severance Tax Perpetual Base Fund, the Water Projects Bill, and the Water Supply Reserve Fund. In FY 2026, the agency approved more than $40 million across 136 locally-driven projects and authorized a $151.5 million loan for the Halligan Water Supply Project. Recent strategic actions include the Shoshone water rights acquisition for permanent instream flow protection (approved November 2025), a $20 million contribution toward the Colorado River District's Shoshone preservation effort, and Phase 2 and Phase 3 activation of the Drought Response Plan in March and June 2026 amid near-statewide exceptional drought conditions. Leadership transitioned in May 2026 with Barbara Vasquez elected Board Chair and Mike Camblin as Vice Chair, while Lauren Ris continues as Director.
Colorado Water Conservation Board firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Colorado Water Conservation Board
- Legal name
- Colorado Water Conservation Board
- Website
- https://cwcb.colorado.gov
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1937
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Colorado Water Conservation Board is a Colorado state agency that administers water rights, funds water infrastructure projects through grants and loans, coordinates drought response, and implements the Colorado Water Plan across the state's nine river basins for agricultural, municipal, environmental, and recreational users.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Colorado Water Conservation Board industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water Resource Management
- NAICS
- Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)
- SIC
- Water Supply (4941)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Watershed Protection & Water Quality Services (AFAMAMAB), Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)
Keywords
Where Colorado Water Conservation Board is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver, CO
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Colorado Water Conservation Board business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Water Project Loan Program - Low-interest loans for water infrastructure projects |
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Colorado Water Conservation Board product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Colorado Water Conservation Board is a state agency that conserves, develops, protects, and manages Colorado's water for present and future generations. It implements the Colorado Water Plan, administers water rights and interstate compact compliance, coordinates multi-phase drought response, and disburses funding through grants (Water Plan Grants, WSRF Grants, Projects Bill Grants) and low-interest loans (Water Project Loan Program) for agricultural, municipal, hydro, and conservation water projects across the state's nine major river basins and 64 counties.
Product overview
The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) offers a portfolio of water resource management programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include the Colorado Water Plan, Water Project Loan Program, Water Plan Grants, Water Supply Reserve Fund Grants, and Projects Bill Grants for statewide water supply needs. Additional programs include the Drought Response Plan with multi-phase activation, the Instream Flow Program for environmental protection, and nine Basin Roundtables for regional stakeholder engagement. CWCB also provides interactive tools including the Water Funding Explorer for navigating funding sources, and data tools like the Snowpack Assessment Viewer (SNODAS). The Water Conditions Monitoring Committee coordinates water supply monitoring across state agencies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Colorado Water Plan
- Water Project Loan Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $40 million in funding for 136 water projects in fiscal year
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Colorado Water Conservation Board
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Colorado Water Conservation Board technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Colorado Water Conservation Board partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Bureau of ReclamationcoreColorado River District seeking funds from Bureau of Reclamation as part of larger funding effort to secure Shoshone permanence and foster water security.
- Colorado River DistrictcoreCollaboration on Shoshone water rights acquisition to secure water rights associated with the Shoshone Power Plant for permanent instream flow protection. CWCB approved $20 million funding contribution toward this effort.
- Xcel EnergycoreAgreement signed allowing Colorado River District to purchase water rights associated with Shoshone power plant owned by Xcel Energy.
- Colorado State University Colorado Climate CentersupportingCollaboration on climate monitoring and drought assessment through the Colorado Climate Center's 131-year climate records and analysis.
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)supportingCollaboration on snowpack monitoring and streamflow forecasting through NRCS Snow Survey Products.
- Colorado Department of Natural ResourcescoreParent agency providing executive direction and coordination across state natural resource departments for drought response and water management.
- Colorado Department of AgriculturesupportingPartner in Drought Task Force to assess agricultural impacts and recommend mitigation measures during drought conditions.
- Division of Homeland Security and Emergency ManagementsupportingPartner in Drought Task Force for emergency response coordination during severe drought conditions.
- Department of Local AffairssupportingPartner in Drought Task Force to support local government coordination during drought conditions.
- Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery ProgramsupportingConservation program receiving $2.38 million in state funding for endangered fish species recovery in the Upper Colorado River.
- San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation ProgramsupportingConservation program receiving funding for endangered fish species recovery in the San Juan River Basin.
- Basin Roundtables (9 basins)coreNine basin roundtables (Arkansas, Colorado, Gunnison, Metro, North Platte, Rio Grande, South Platte, Southwest, Yampa-White-Green) serve as regional stakeholders for water planning and implementation.
- Interbasin Compact Committee (IBCC)coreStatewide committee coordinating among the nine basin roundtables and ensuring interbasin water transfers meet requirements.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Colorado Water Conservation Board competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wyoming State Engineer's Office: Wyoming's water administration agency with authority over water rights, interstate compacts, and water resource planning. Comparable as a peer state agency governing water rights and basin compacts in the same broader region.
- Nevada Division of Water Resources: Nevada's state water agency responsible for water resource planning, water rights, and drought response. Comparable due to shared Colorado River Basin context and active involvement in interstate water negotiations.
- Texas Water Development Board: Texas state agency responsible for water planning and financing water infrastructure projects. Directly comparable to CWCB's combination of statewide planning authority and low-interest loan/grant programs for water projects.
- California State Water Resources Control Board: California's primary state water resources regulatory and planning agency. Most directly comparable as a peer state agency with analogous authority over water rights, water quality, and statewide funding programs for water infrastructure.
- Arizona Department of Water Resources: Arizona's state water agency managing water supply, water rights, and drought planning in a Colorado River basin context. Highly comparable due to shared Colorado River Basin dynamics and active drought response role.
- Oregon Water Resources Department: Oregon's state water agency administering water rights, water supply planning, and basin programs. Comparable in scope of state-level water resource management and planning authority, though smaller in funding scale than CWCB.
- Utah Division of Water Resources: Utah's state water planning agency managing water resources, conservation programs, and infrastructure funding. Comparable in role as state-level water planning and funding authority, particularly in the Colorado River Basin.
- New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission: New Mexico agency focused on interstate stream compacts and water resource administration. Comparable in compact-administration and basin-scale water planning functions, particularly within the Colorado River Basin.
Regional players
- Washington State Department of Ecology: Washington's state agency administering water resources programs, water rights, and drought response. Comparable in regulatory and planning scope but operating in a different geographic basin (Columbia River vs. Colorado River).
Broad incumbents
- U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Federal agency managing water infrastructure and interstate water allocation in the western U.S. Comparable as a higher-level coordinating authority that partners with and provides funding to CWCB for projects like Halligan and Shoshone.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Colorado Water Conservation Board social profiles
Digital presenceColorado Water Conservation Board financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Colorado Water Conservation Board leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Colorado Water Conservation Board funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Colorado Water Conservation Board M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Colorado Water Conservation Board
What does Colorado Water Conservation Board do?
The Colorado Water Conservation Board is a state agency that conserves, develops, protects, and manages Colorado's water for present and future generations. It implements the Colorado Water Plan, administers water rights and interstate compact compliance, coordinates multi-phase drought response, and disburses funding through grants (Water Plan Grants, WSRF Grants, Projects Bill Grants) and low-interest loans (Water Project Loan Program) for agricultural, municipal, hydro, and conservation water projects across the state's nine major river basins and 64 counties.
Is Colorado Water Conservation Board a public or private company?
Colorado Water Conservation Board is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Colorado Water Conservation Board founded?
Colorado Water Conservation Board was founded in 1937. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Colorado Water Conservation Board based?
Colorado Water Conservation Board is headquartered in Denver, CO, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Colorado Water Conservation Board's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wyoming State Engineer's Office, Nevada Division of Water Resources, Texas Water Development Board, California State Water Resources Control Board, Arizona Department of Water Resources, Oregon Water Resources Department, Utah Division of Water Resources and New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission. Washington State Department of Ecology is listed as a regional player. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Colorado Water Conservation Board have an API?
No public API is recorded for Colorado Water Conservation Board.
What industry is Colorado Water Conservation Board in?
Colorado Water Conservation Board's product category is Water Resource Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAMAE, Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater), with a secondary code of AFAMAMAB, Watershed Protection & Water Quality Services. Its NAICS code is 924110 and its SIC code is 4941.