Securing Colorado’s Water Future

Nowhere in the country is water more important than in Colorado. As a headwaters state, water is the lifeblood of our economy and way of life.

For nearly two decades, Michael has helped tackle Colorado’s biggest water challenges. He’s worked hand-in-hand with communities to support critical projects, from the Shoshone Project and the Windy Gap Bypass, to the Arkansas Valley Conduit and South Platte River Restoration. He’s partnered with Republican River and San Luis Valley farmers and ranchers to develop new tools for water conservation. And he’s fought to secure millions of dollars for critical Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute water infrastructure improvements. In recent years, Michael has worked with bipartisan western leaders to secure historic federal investments, including $8.3 billion for western water infrastructure and $4 billion for drought resilience. 

Michael has also fought to improve the health of our forests that supply drinking water to 80% of our state. And he recently released a comprehensive plan to restore and protect Colorado’s watersheds.

This winter’s record low snowpack and record high temperatures provide a glimpse into a hotter, drier future. Michael knows we cannot litigate our way out of this drought and going to court will not make it rain or snow. As Governor, Michael will use his deep, statewide relationships and bring a collaborative and creative approach to help Colorado respond, adapt, and build a more secure water future.

Strategic Leadership: Climate change is forcing challenging decisions and high stakes negotiations with neighboring states that will have consequences for our economy and way of life. Michael will:

• Protect Colorado’s Interests: Michael will defend Colorado’s water rights, fight to secure fair and realistic outcomes, and deliver certainty for Colorado communities. Michael is deeply concerned about the Colorado River’s current hydrology, and the uncertainty that could come from expensive, decades-long litigation between Colorado and our neighboring states. Although not afraid of litigation, he believes that a collaborative, multi-state approach will lead to a more certain and secure future. 
• Appoint Creative, Collaborative Leaders: Each of Colorado’s river basins are unique and essential to the future of our state. Michael will hire leaders who listen, take feedback, and build trust in every one of Colorado’s river basins. Michael will demand that Colorado’s interstate negotiating priorities reflect deep local engagement and input from the most affected communities. And, he will make sure that Colorado’s next generation of water leaders can step in and help design the future that they will inherit. 
• Prioritize Tribal Relationships: The United States has failed to fulfill its trust obligations to Colorado’s Tribes. Michael will strengthen government-to-government relations and Tribal consultation on all of Colorado’s water decisions. He will continue to fight for the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute’s full access to their water rights, support efforts to build critical infrastructure, and ensure that any future statewide voluntary conservation program is built with Tribal input and benefits Tribes.

Comprehensive Drought Response: Studies suggest climate change will reduce Colorado’s rivers and streamflows between 5 and 30% by 2050. Michael will lead a statewide effort – engaging farmers and ranchers, utilities, businesses, and local governments –  to develop the tools and secure the resources, including federal funding, needed to respond and adapt to the future. He will: 

• Expand Drought Resilience Tools: Michael will work with the agriculture and water communities to develop a thoughtful suite of tools to reduce risks from extreme drought and declining water supply. He will increase efficiency by upgrading aging infrastructure, deploying new technology, and exploring innovative storage and augmentation approaches. When drought emergencies hit, Michael will make sure that communities have the resources they need to survive a crisis and thrive again.
• Protect Water Security: Communities are grappling with the realities of rapidly declining surface and groundwater supplies that threaten Colorado’s well-being. Michael will work with water users across the state to support voluntary, temporary, and compensated water conservation efforts. He will ensure any new state water conservation program is well designed, effective, protects existing water rights, and benefits producers and local communities – not speculators. And he’ll make sure that Colorado gets credit for any water sent downstream. 
• Cut Costs With Residential Water Savings: Michael will look to boost and expand locally led water savings initiatives. He’ll support communities who integrate water and land use planning, and encourage water smart standards for new development and redevelopment projects. Michael will also work with businesses, utilities, and water leaders to incentivize installment of drought resilient landscaping. 
• Upgrade Water Infrastructure: The Colorado Water Plan is our comprehensive roadmap for addressing long-term water supply challenges. But the Plan faces a $50 million per year gap, which means 30% of eligible projects aren’t funded. Michael will work with the state legislature, water districts, local leaders, utilities, and businesses to secure stable long-term funding for water infrastructure. He will also set aside resources for early stage project development and technical assistance to provide capacity in small, rural, or disadvantaged communities. And he will streamline state funding and permitting, so that it’s easier to move good projects from concept to implementation, while maintaining proper safeguards and public engagement. 
• Fight Water Speculation: Michael knows that rural communities and agriculture are central to Colorado’s economy and way of life. He will not accept or support water export, buy and dry, or other speculative plans that put Colorado’s values at risk. As he has for nearly two decades, Michael will stand with local communities—including in the San Luis Valley and the Lower Arkansas River—to fight speculation. 
• Manage Future Risks: Michael will lead a statewide risk assessment and scenario planning effort to prepare for a range of climate futures—including  severe, sustained drought—ensuring Colorado is not just reacting to the next crisis, but planning ahead of it. He will also invest in next-generation snowpack forecasting, soil moisture monitoring, and real-time data to improve water management decisions. And he will prioritize forest and watershed health to protect and sustain our water supplies.

Protect the Clean Water We Have: Colorado’s water resources are precious. Michael will do everything he can to protect every drop of clean water we have. And he’ll fight to make sure that every kid in Colorado can grow up with clean, safe drinking water. He will:

• Protect Wetlands and Watersheds: With the absence of federal leadership, Michael will build on and implement Colorado’s nation-leading efforts to protect wetlands and streams. He will continue to fend off projects that threaten Colorado’s waterways — like the Uinta Basin Railway Project. And he will prioritize reclamation efforts to clean up abandoned mines and plug orphaned wells, welcoming local governments, NGOs, and industry experts who are interested in bringing more resources to bear. Michael will also fight for resources to reduce Colorado’s unacceptable backlog of wastewater discharge permits. 
• Fight for Safe, Affordable Drinking Water: Michael will make sure the state’s water quality standards, from PFAS to lead to nutrients, are informed by the best available science. He will push to swiftly remove lead pipes for urban and rural communities. And he’ll champion the Arkansas Valley Conduit, just like he’s done in the Senate, by leveraging state resources to complete the project for Southeastern Colorado. Michael will also prioritize reclamation and cleanup efforts in high priority headwaters, such as the Animas River watershed, that cut treatment costs for downstream communities.
• Hold Polluters Accountable: Michael will invest in the staff and technology needed to strengthen water quality monitoring, identify harmful discharges, and hold polluters accountable. He is not afraid of the challenge of taking on corporate polluters, and will make sure that polluters – not ratepayers – foot the bill for cleanup.