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The right of the public to access rivers flowing through private property in Colorado has been a source of debate since before statehood. Coloradans rely primarily on case law to determine how and where one can float on Colorado’s rivers. This issue brief discusses relevant court cases and other developments that govern river access in Colorado.

The instream flow (ISF) program was created by legislation in 1973, which authorized the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to appropriate or acquire water rights of natural streams and lakes to preserve the natural environment without diverting the water.

An estimated 3.3 million people in Colorado are affected by drought, with 2022 being the driest year to date over the past 128 years.  In response to the ongoing drought in Colorado, the General Assembly passed HB 22-1151 to promote the efficient and maximum utilization of Colorado’s water resources by decreasing the amount of irrigated turf within the state.  The bill requires the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) in the Department of Natural Resources to create a turf replacement program that incentivizes the voluntary replacement of nonessential irrigated turf acr

Spurred in part by the state's growing population and recent droughts, the executive branch and legislature have taken action to address Colorado’s future water supply challenges. This issue brief examines several water supply planning initiatives, including the development of the Colorado Water Plan and the Water for the 21st Century Act.