With rapid population growth in the West, the reality is that much of the future municipal and industrial water demands will be met through the reallocation of water from agricultural purposes. Historically, municipal and industrial water providers have acquired and permanently transferred irrigation water rights into their systems to meet their ever growing demand. This practice of “buy and dry” can have significant negative effects on the agricultural economy, rural communities, and the natural environment.
Western Water Partnerships recognizes that market-based, water sharing agreements will be a critical component in meeting the future municipal and industrial water needs. Agricultural water transfers do not have to be “win-lose” propositions. We believe through innovative solutions such as interruptible water supply agreements, we can optimize the use of this scarce resource while mitigating the negative impacts from agricultural water transfers.
Western Water Partnerships:
• Facilitates agricultural-urban interruptible water supply agreements (IWSAs)
• Leads and manages an expert team of attorneys, engineers, economists and agronomists in the development of IWSAs and throughout the water court process
• Partners with local open space departments, land trusts and farmers/ranchers to preserve irrigated agricultural lands
• Provides planning services to M&I water providers seeking IWSAs (i.e. dry year water supplies)
• Develops farm and water management plans for properties with water-sharing agreements
Why a Public Benefit Corporation?
In 2013, the Colorado Legislature passed a bill providing for a new type of corporation, public-benefit corporations (PBC), that allow for a public benefit(s) to be a charter purpose in addition to the traditional corporate goal of maximizing profits for shareholders.
Western Water Partnerships' charter purpose is to protect irrigated agricultural lands and to develop and manage water sharing agreements with, but not limited to, agricultural, municipal, environmental, recreational, industrial and commercial users.
Western Water Partnerships recognizes that market-based, water sharing agreements will be a critical component in meeting the future municipal and industrial water needs. Agricultural water transfers do not have to be “win-lose” propositions. We believe through innovative solutions such as interruptible water supply agreements, we can optimize the use of this scarce resource while mitigating the negative impacts from agricultural water transfers.
Western Water Partnerships:
• Facilitates agricultural-urban interruptible water supply agreements (IWSAs)
• Leads and manages an expert team of attorneys, engineers, economists and agronomists in the development of IWSAs and throughout the water court process
• Partners with local open space departments, land trusts and farmers/ranchers to preserve irrigated agricultural lands
• Provides planning services to M&I water providers seeking IWSAs (i.e. dry year water supplies)
• Develops farm and water management plans for properties with water-sharing agreements
Why a Public Benefit Corporation?
In 2013, the Colorado Legislature passed a bill providing for a new type of corporation, public-benefit corporations (PBC), that allow for a public benefit(s) to be a charter purpose in addition to the traditional corporate goal of maximizing profits for shareholders.
Western Water Partnerships' charter purpose is to protect irrigated agricultural lands and to develop and manage water sharing agreements with, but not limited to, agricultural, municipal, environmental, recreational, industrial and commercial users.