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Pursuant to Section 37-98-102, C.R.S., the Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee’s (WRARC) purpose is to oversee the conservation, use, development, and financing of Colorado's water resources and to identify, monitor, and address Colorado agriculture issues. House Bill 26-1331 limited the committee’s meetings and ability to request legislation. The committee met one time during the 2026 interim and did not take any field trips or request any legislation. This memorandum includes a summary of the topics that the committee discussed in 2026. 

Drought is defined as a shortage of water associated with the lack of precipitation.  Drought is a regular feature of Colorado’s climate, and Colorado has endured significant dry periods and droughts in recent history. Drought is a unique type of weather event because it typically occurs slowly and its impacts compound over time, making it difficult to determine specifically when a drought begins and ends. Additionally, different regions of the state are affected by drought in different ways, which can complicate response efforts.

Until the 1980s, farming practices relied heavily on shared knowledge, experience, and intuition. The introduction of precision agriculture – the use of technology and automation to make farming more efficient – both transformed farming practices and introduced a number of agriculture data challenges. Today, data-driven digital agriculture is expected to play a crucial role in producing 60 percent more food to feed the projected global population by 2050 (Yu et al. 2025).

This memo analyzes the public health implications of raw milk consumption, noting that while proponents cite perceived taste and nutritional benefits, scientific evidence shows unpasteurized dairy products cause significantly more illnesses and outbreaks than pasteurized dairy products. Raw milk may have a protective effect against early-childhood asthma and allergies; however, there are also risks of life-threatening infections, particularly for vulnerable populations like children.

This memorandum provides information about the interstate compacts, Supreme Court decrees, and international treaties that govern Colorado’s use of interstate streams. Specifically, it gives a brief history of each compact and outlines the specific components and requirements of each compact currently in state law. In addition, the memorandum discusses the two memoranda, two Supreme Court decrees, and two international treaties that govern rivers in Colorado. Appendix A outlines the technical components of the laws affecting Colorado’s rivers.

The Legislative Council Staff’s Water Policy Handbook is intended to serve as a reference guide to Colorado's water policies and programs.  The book is divided into three parts.  Each part covers a different aspect of Colorado water law and policy.
 

This memorandum provides information about irrigation districts in Colorado.  Specifically, it discusses the current irrigation districts, the powers and duties of irrigation districts, and how those powers and duties compare to those of special districts.

Sunset laws allow the General Assembly to periodically review the need for state regulations, advisory committees, or state agencies and to update the law creating the agency or function.  To accomplish this review, committees of reference hold public sunset hearings on sunset reports issued by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).

This handbook was created to help members of the House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee, Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy Committee, the interim Water Resources Review Committee, and other legislators to better understand Colorado's water policies and programs that are likely to be encountered during their tenure.