What Dolores Water Conservancy Dist does

Dolores Water Conservancy District (DWCD) is a Colorado special district and public government entity headquartered at 60 S. Cactus, Cortez, Colorado, formed in November 1961 to develop and manage water resources from the Dolores River for Dolores and Montezuma Counties in Southwest Colorado. The district operates the Dolores Project in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, anchored by McPhee Dam and Reservoir — a 270-foot-high, 1,370-foot-long federal facility holding 381,000 acre-feet of storage at full capacity. DWCD delivers irrigation water to approximately 63,000 irrigated acres across its Full Service Area (29,000 acres), MVIC's classified lands (26,300 acres), and the Ute Farm and Ranch Enterprise (7,700 acres), and provides municipal and industrial water supply averaging 1,624 acre-feet annually to the City of Cortez, Montezuma Water Company, and the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation.

The district's operating infrastructure spans 82 miles of pressurized pipe laterals and over 73 miles of canals (Dove Creek Canal, South Canal, Dolores Tunnel and Canal, and Towaoc Canal), supported by seven pumping plants, the Great Cut Dike, and two hydroelectric powerplants — the 11.5 MW Towaoc Canal Powerplant and the 1.3 MW McPhee Dam Powerplant — which together produce an average of 37.5 million kWh annually, enough to power approximately 2,706 households, or 25% of households in Montezuma and Dolores counties. A SCADA system administered internally provides real-time monitoring of reservoir storage, river gauges, canal flows, and tunnel operations.

DWCD finances operations primarily through annual Project Irrigation Water Assessments and service fees set in board hearings each November for the following fiscal year, with supplemental revenue from hydroelectric power sales to Western Area Power Administration. The district is governed by a seven-member elected board (presided over by Board President Godwin Oliver) and managed day-to-day by General Manager Ken Curtis with a small staff of approximately ten employees across two offices.

Name

Dolores Water Conservancy Dist

Legal name

Dolores Water Conservancy District

Website

https://doloreswater.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dolores Water Conservancy District is a Colorado special district that operates the Dolores Project — anchored by McPhee Dam and Reservoir — delivering irrigation water to 63,000 acres, municipal supply to local communities and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and 37.5 million kWh of hydroelectric power annually across Dolores and Montezuma Counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cortez

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Water Assessments and Service Fees: The district collects water assessments and service fees from water users within the district boundaries. The Dolores Project serves roughly 63,000 irrigated acres through the Full Service Area, MVIC classified lands, and Ute Farm and Ranch Enterprise. The district conducts annual budget hearings and assessment rate settings.
2. Municipal and Industrial Water Supply: Provides municipal and industrial water supply of approximately 8,700 acre-feet to support domestic water needs for communities in the area including the City of Cortez and the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation.
3. Project Irrigation Water Assessments: The district conducts annual Project Irrigation Water Assessment hearings to set assessment rates for water users benefiting from the Dolores Project infrastructure.
4. Hydropower Revenue: Power produced by Dolores Project facilities is sold to Western Area Power Association's grid. The Towaoc Canal Powerplant (11.5 MW) and McPhee Dam Powerplant (1.3 MW) generate approximately 37.5 million kilowatt-hours annually.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Dolores Water Conservancy District (DWCD) operates the Dolores Project, a multi-purpose water management system in southwestern Colorado. The district stores and distributes water from McPhee Reservoir (381,000 acre-feet capacity) through an extensive infrastructure network of canals, tunnels, pumping plants, and 82 miles of pressurized pipe laterals. Core services include agricultural irrigation water delivery to approximately 63,000 acres, municipal and industrial water supply to local communities, and hydroelectric power generation through two powerplants.

Product overview

Dolores Water Conservancy District (DWCD) operates the Dolores Project, a comprehensive water management system in southwestern Colorado. The district's core offerings center on McPhee Dam & Reservoir as the primary water storage facility, supported by an extensive infrastructure network of canals (Dove Creek Canal, South Canal, Dolores Tunnel and Canal, Towaoc Canal), pumping plants, and pressurized pipe laterals spanning approximately 82 miles. The district provides integrated water services including irrigation water distribution to approximately 63,000 acres, municipal and industrial water supply (averaging 1,624 AF annually), and hydroelectric power generation through two powerplants (Towaoc Canal Powerplant at 11.5 MW and McPhee Dam Powerplant at 1.3 MW) producing enough electricity to power approximately 2,706 households. The district also manages recreation facilities at McPhee Reservoir and provides river monitoring data through partnerships with Colorado Division of Water Resources. DWCD operates under the Streamline platform for website and content management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Agricultural Irrigation Water Delivery Distribution of irrigation water through McPhee Reservoir, canals (Dove Creek Canal, South Canal, Dolores Tunnel and Canal, Towaoc Canal), pumping plants, and 82 miles of pressurized pipe laterals to serve approximately 63,000 irrigated acres across the Full Service Area, MVIC classified lands, and Ute Farm and Ranch Enterprise.
• Municipal and Industrial Water Supply Provides an average of 1,624 acre-feet of municipal water annually since 2000, with capacity of 8,700 acre-feet to support moderate growth. Serves the City of Cortez, Montezuma Water Company, and Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation through dedicated infrastructure.
• Hydroelectric Power Generation Power generated by the Towaoc Canal Powerplant (11.5 MW, operating April-September) and McPhee Dam Powerplant (1.3 MW, year-round). Combined annual production averages 37,488,000 kWh, supplying approximately 2,706 households. Power is sold to Western Area Power Association's grid.
• Recreation Facilities Management McPhee Reservoir and surrounding facilities offer recreational opportunities including House Creek Recreation Area, McPhee Recreation Complex, fishing access sites, campgrounds, and boat ramps. Whitewater rafting on the Dolores River is supported during spring runoff. Facilities administered in partnership with U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.
• River Gauge and Reservoir Monitoring Data Public access to real-time monitoring data for McPhee Reservoir storage, Dolores River flows at multiple locations (Dolores, Rico, Below McPhee), canal flows (Dolores Tunnel, Dove Creek Canal, Lone Pine Canal, U-Lateral Canal, Towaoc Highline Canal), Lost Canyon Creek, and Groundhog Reservoir. Data provided through Colorado Division of Water Resources integration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves approximately 63,000 irrigated acres of agricultural land
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• U.S. Bureau of ReclamationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bureau of Reclamation is the federal agency that constructed the Dolores Project under the Water Resources Development Act. Reclamation maintains oversight and partnership in power plant operations and maintenance contracts with DWCD. The district operates under various contracts with Reclamation including the 2000 Operating Agreement (Contract No. 99-WC-40-R-6100), Carriage Contract (02-WC-40-7060), and Hydropower Plant O&M contracts. The Dolores Project was authorized as a federal water project.
• Colorado Division of Water ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency responsible for water rights administration in Colorado. Division representatives (such as Rusty Crangle) provide regular agency reports at DWCD board meetings. The division provides stream flow data through the Colorado Water Conservation Board.
• Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company (MVIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMVIC is a major water user within the Dolores Project, holding water rights including 87.3 CFS water rights filing. MVIC's classified lands (26,300 acres) receive water through the project. MVIC representatives (Brandon Johnson) provide regular reports at DWCD board meetings. The district has discussed leasing DWCD-owned MVIC Class A shares to UF&R.
• Towaoc Highline CommitteesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommittee overseeing water delivery through the Towaoc Canal to Ute Mountain Ute lands. DWCD appoints a representative to the committee annually. Wes Wilson serves as committee representative.
• Ute Mountain Ute TribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe tribe receives water through the Towaoc Canal for both municipal and agricultural use. The Dolores Project settlement addressed tribal water rights. The district coordinates water delivery and has discussed DC L&G transfer to Town of Dove Creek and other matters affecting the tribal service area.
• Western Area Power Association (WAPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWAPA purchases power produced by Dolores Project hydroelectric facilities (Towaoc Canal Powerplant and McPhee Dam Powerplant) and distributes it to the regional grid. This partnership generates revenue for the district.
• Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency responsible for wildlife management and fishery resources. CPW provides direction on downstream fishery releases from McPhee Reservoir. The district coordinates release schedules with CPW for fishery health.
• Colorado Water Congress (CWC)secondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerStatewide water advocacy organization. DWCD representatives attend CWC conferences and provide conference highlights at board meetings. DWCD's current lobbyist is Christine Arbogast.
• Southwest Water Conservation District (SWCD)secondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional water conservation district organization. DWCD participates in SWCD seminars and events including B2E (Business to Environment) grants and future B2W (Business to Water) programs with the Bureau of Reclamation.
• U.S. Forest ServicesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency administering recreation facilities at McPhee Reservoir including House Creek Recreation Area, McPhee Recreation Complex, four fishing access sites, and three recreation facilities between McPhee Dam and Bradfield Bridge.
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency administering recreation facilities along the Dolores River including four recreation facilities with boat launching for whitewater rafting, and operating the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center (built as part of the Dolores Project).

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Carlsbad Irrigation District: New Mexico irrigation district operating Avalon Dam and the Carlsbad Project (a Bureau of Reclamation facility delivering irrigation water, M&I supply, and hydropower along the Pecos River). Comparable mission and federal reclamation project structure, but operates in a different geography.
• Elephant Butte Irrigation District: New Mexico irrigation district operating Elephant Butte Reservoir and serving ~90,000 acres of irrigated farmland in southern New Mexico. Comparable multi-purpose water delivery and hydropower generation, but a different service geography.
• Arch Hurley Conservancy District: New Mexico conservancy district operating Conchas Dam and reservoir on the Canadian River for irrigation and municipal supply. Comparable statutory structure (conservancy district), multi-purpose water infrastructure, and assessment-funded operations, but in a different basin.

Direct peers

• Southwest Water Conservation District: Neighboring Colorado conservation district on the Western Slope that partners with DWCD on SWCD seminars and B2E grant programs. Comparable in statutory form, regional scope, and mission of water resource stewardship in southwest Colorado.
• Colorado River Water Conservation District: Colorado special district covering the headwaters of the Colorado River on the Western Slope, operating reservoirs and providing water for irrigation, municipal supply, and hydropower. Highly comparable in statutory structure, multi-purpose mission, and Western Slope geography to DWCD.
• Central Utah Water Conservancy District: Utah special district operating the CUP (Central Utah Project) facilities — a federal reclamation project delivering irrigation and M&I water, with hydropower generation. Closely comparable as another Bureau of Reclamation project operator with assessment-based revenue and multi-stakeholder (tribal, agricultural, municipal) structure.
• Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District: Colorado special district operating the Windy Gap and Colorado-Big Thompson projects, delivering water for irrigation, municipal, and industrial use across northern Colorado. Most structurally comparable peer: multi-purpose water storage and conveyance infrastructure funded by assessments on agricultural and municipal users.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Federal agency that constructed the Dolores Project and operates most large-scale water infrastructure in the Western U.S. Functions as both partner and overarching authority for DWCD; a broader incumbent whose portfolio dwarfs DWCD but whose operating model (reservoir + canal + hydropower) directly overlaps DWCD's core activities.
• Denver Water: The largest water utility in Colorado, serving ~1.5 million people across the Denver metro area with collection, treatment, and distribution of drinking water. A broad incumbent in the same state's water supply industry, with overlapping municipal/irrigation mission but a much larger urban customer base.

Others

• Colorado Water Conservation Board: State agency administering Colorado's water policy, water rights, and instream flow program. Adjacent ecosystem participant — not a peer in operating terms but a key regulatory body with overlapping water administration authority in DWCD's service area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dolores-water-conservancy-dist

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 Dolores Water Conservancy Dist