Colorado has a history of agricultural water being purchased by other users, primarily municipalities, and converted to urban uses. Much has been written about the intricacies of water quantity, diversions, storage, economics, and water quality. There is not much literature on the revegetation of lands with irrigation (agricultural) water removed from the area.

Colorado water law statute (CRS 37-92-305(4.5)(a)), enacted in 1992, requires terms and conditions for permanent water transfers that include “reasonable provisions designed to accomplish the revegetation and noxious weed management of lands from which irrigation water is removed.” A number of decrees in the Arkansas Valley were reviewed to see just how the revegetation and weed management is accomplished. Revegetation and weed control are vital for controlling soil erosion, protecting off-farm infrastructure, and increasing the value of land by planting a permanent vegetative cover.

After reviewing a number of decrees and discussing revegetation with various stakeholders, a set of recommendations will be developed to aid in the revegetation of lands where irrigated water has been removed and converted to other beneficial uses.