Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB)

Review the Grant Guidelines and follow the application procedure; contact Nora Flynn with questions. Staff send applications with a recommendation to a Program Management Committee (CWCB Director, State Engineer, DNR Executive Director and the Commissioner of Agriculture), which makes the final decision.

Deadline text on the page: Application Deadline April 15, 2027. Counties on the current-year USDA Secretarial drought designation map (primary and contiguous) can apply by April 15 of the following year.

Nora Flynn

Senior Agricultural Specialist

General office

In drought-designated Colorado counties, this program reimburses agricultural water organizations, such as augmentation companies, ditch and reservoir companies, and conservancy and conservation districts, for emergency augmentation water they bought during the previous irrigation season and for extra pumping costs when the source is supplemental groundwater. Irrigators benefit through their ditch or augmentation company, which applies. Applications for this year's costs are due April 15, 2027.



- Agricultural organizations (augmentation companies, ditch and reservoir companies, conservancy districts, conservation districts)
- Located in counties where an emergency drought designation or a disaster emergency has been proclaimed (USDA Secretarial drought designation primary or contiguous counties)
- Only verified costs incurred during a previous irrigation season

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

Grant (or loan) for emergency augmentation water actually purchased; administrative costs no more than 5% of the grant.

Published amounts: Program total: up to $1 million annually, in the form of loans or grants. Administrative costs (engineering, attorney fees) capped at 5% of the grant amount.

Submit the online application or the PDF application (email to DNR_diversionmeasurement@state.co.us). If your Division is not yet accepting applications, submit the Statement of Interest. CWCB and SGM review submissions; accepted applicants sign an ownership agreement with CWCB (maintain equipment, provide diversion data through 2029), then a contractor installs the structure. Informational meetings are held in each Division.

Deadline text on the page: Applications for measurement devices in Divisions 4 and 5 are now available through November 20th. Divisions 6 and 7: submit a Statement of Interest to be notified. Structures will be installed by 2029.

Anna Ryken

Colorado River Technical Modeling Specialist

Program inbox

CWCB will install a free diversion measurement structure (flume, weir or meter) at the point of diversion for West Slope water users whose measuring device is missing or faulty, as new DWR measurement rules take effect in the Colorado River Basin. It covers design, equipment and installation by a licensed subcontractor; the water user maintains the device and shares diversion data through 2029, and then owns it. The program covers Divisions 4, 5, 6 and 7 (Gunnison, Colorado, Yampa/White and San Juan/Dolores basins).



- Water users in Divisions 4, 5, 6 and 7 within the Upper Colorado River Basin (excluding the North Platte River Basin)
- Must own or use an active water right at the point of diversion, with a missing or faulty measurement device
- Legal right to access the installation location
- Existing diversion structure (e.g., headgate) must be in working condition and actively used
- State and federal agencies are not eligible

A reduction or waiving of fees for meeting a certain criteria.

Discount

Free structure plus installation; water user owns and maintains it after installation and reports diversion data to the state through 2029; no headgate funding; not combinable with other sources for the same structure.

Published amounts: 100% covered, in kind: 'Eligible water users will receive a measurement structure, installed at their point of diversion, at no cost to them.' Covers design, the flume/weir/meter and installation to DWR specifications; no headgates. No match required; cannot be combined with other funding for the same structure; no reimbursement for devices already installed.

First contact the Republican River Water Conservation District, whose staff coordinate participation, develop application documents and submit applications to CWCB. Required: proof of ownership of irrigated acreage in the SFFZ, proof of base-program participation, RRWCD recommendation (eligible acres and grant amount), Scope of Work (Exhibit A), Budget (Exhibit B), proof of insurance and Certificate of Good Standing if applicable. Materials can be emailed to the program manager; CWCB evaluates and DWR must concur.

Deadline text on the page: All grants must be executed by December 31, 2029. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all funds are obligated.

Michael Regan

Budget Analyst

This program pays landowners $750 per irrigated acre they retire in the South Fork Focus Zone of the Republican River, helping Colorado meet its 2016 compact obligation to Kansas and Nebraska to retire 25,000 acres by the end of 2029. It supplements a 'base' retirement program the landowner must already be enrolled in (CREP, EQIP, RAMP or WPPP). The Republican River Water Conservation District helps landowners prepare and submit applications.



- Irrigated acreage must be within the boundary of the South Fork of the Republican River's live stream
- Applicants must prove landownership for more than one year
- Must participate in one of four base programs that support irrigated acreage retirement: CREP, EQIP, RAMP, or WPPP
- A positive recommendation from the Republican River Water Conservation District (RRWCD) is required

$750 per retired irrigated acre, paid as a grant on top of the base program; grants executed by December 31, 2029.

Published amounts: The program offers grants of $750 per retired irrigated acre to eligible landowners in the SFFZ. $6.0 million appropriation to retire the remaining nearly 8,000 acres (over 17,000 of the 25,000-acre obligation retired as of spring 2025).

Contact your Regional Grant Manager and schedule a pre-application meeting several months ahead. Submit via the CWCB Portal with the Statement of Work (Word) and Budget & Timeline (Excel); Water Sharing Agreements/ATM and Engagement & Innovation applications need a supplemental form. Letters of support go through the Portal by the deadline. Review, award and contracting typically take 6–9 months.

Deadline text on the page: The CWCB offers two grant cycles each year, with application deadlines on July 1 and December 1. December 1 applications go to the March Board meeting.

Hallie Mahowald

Arkansas Basin Water Plan Grant Project Manager

Ashley Garrison

Colorado, Gunnison, Yampa/White/Green Basins Water Plan Grant Project Manager

Jackie Carano

South Platte, Metro, North Platte Basins Water Plan Grant Project Manager

Laura Spann

Southwest & Rio Grande Basins Water Plan Grant Project Manager

Colorado Water Plan Grants fund projects that carry out the state water plan, including an Agriculture category (irrigation infrastructure modernization, ditch-wide efficiency planning, on-farm efficiency demonstrations and next-generation farmer projects) and Water Sharing Agreements that offer alternatives to buy-and-dry. Your mutual ditch company, conservation or irrigation district, local government, nonprofit or a farm partnership applies; individuals are not listed as eligible. There are two cycles a year, with application deadlines July 1 and December 1.



- Governmental entities: municipalities, districts, enterprises, counties, State of Colorado agencies (federal agencies should partner with local entities)
- Covered Entities (§37-60-126 C.R.S.) only with an approved water conservation plan
- Private entities: mutual ditch companies, non-profit corporations, and partnerships
- Match: 50% minimum for construction, 25% for plans/studies

Reimbursement grant; costs before the executed State Agreement are not reimbursable; progress reports every six months.

Published amounts: For the 2026 grant application cycles, the CWCB has approximately $40.2 million total available to award; $11.2M remains for December 1 applications, including Agriculture - $4.31 million. Guidelines: minimum 50% match for construction projects and 25% for plans or studies (no more than half in-kind).

Before applying, contact Matt Stearns to discuss the project, schedules and deadlines. Request registration on the CWCB Portal (1–2 days), complete the online application and upload a Loan Feasibility Study. Staff recommend the loan to the Board; borrowers should attend the Board meeting, then sign a state loan contract (attorney opinion letter, proof of insurance, W-9, EFT required). A typical loan under $10 million takes four to five months from application to available funds.

Deadline text on the page: Requests for less than $30 million: Applications may be submitted throughout the year. Requests for more than $30 million: Applications must be submitted by August 1 to be considered for CWCB approval at the November CWCB Board meeting.

Matt Stearns

Project Manager/Marketing

CWCB's Water Project Loan Program makes low-interest, long-term loans for building or rehabilitating untreated-water infrastructure: reservoirs, ditches and canals, pipelines, diversion structures, groundwater wells, water rights purchases, flood control and hydropower. Agricultural borrowers get a 2.40% rate on a standard 30-year term. Projects must align with Colorado's Water Plan, and the borrower submits a loan feasibility study through the CWCB Portal.



- Any private or public entity that can contract with the state and that can establish and document the need for the project (common borrowers: irrigation districts, mutual ditch companies, associations, reservoir companies, municipalities, special districts)
- Project must be technically, economically, institutionally and financially feasible and align with Colorado's Water Plan
- Non-governmental borrowers must be in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State and meet minimum insurance requirements
- Water treatment projects are not eligible

A payment that must be returned to the provider following specified terms of repayment and interest rate.

Loan

Standard term 30 years (10/20/40-year options with rate adjustments); 1% service fee rolled into the loan; funds disbursed against invoiced work during construction; interest during construction paid before permanent annual payments begin; borrower sets aside 10% of the annual payment as a reserve for the first 10 years. Eligible costs: design, engineering, construction, water rights purchases; land/easements if integral.

Published amounts: A minimum loan request of $100,000 is recommended. Rates (30-year term): Agricultural 2.40%; Municipal 3.35%/3.80%/4.30% by income; Commercial 6.00%; Hydroelectric 2.00%. Rates are reduced by 0.25% for 20-year loans, and by 1.30% for 10-year loans; increased by 0.25% for 40-year loans. 1.0% loan service fee. Rates update every other month.

Review the WSRF Grant Guidelines and your basin roundtable's criteria, contact the roundtable, register on the CWCB Portal, submit the application with Exhibit A (Statement of Work) and Exhibit B (Budget & Schedule) plus maps, designs and match letters, obtain basin roundtable approval, then work with CWCB staff before Board review. Review, award and contracting typically take 6–9 months; costs before the grant agreement is executed are not reimbursable.

Deadline text on the page: Deadlines include October 1, December 1, February 1, April 1, June 1, and August 1 of each year. Applicant must have written basin roundtable approval first; applications are reviewed at the Board meeting three months after the deadline.

Ben Wade

Water Supply Reserve Fund Program Manager

Carolyn Kemp

CWCB Portal support

The Water Supply Reserve Fund gives competitive grants to Colorado water users for critical water supply needs: technical assistance, feasibility studies, design, and infrastructure replacement or maintenance, such as ditch and diversion rehabilitation. Each request must be approved by the local basin roundtable before CWCB decides. Mutual ditch companies, individuals, partnerships, nonprofits and local governments can apply.



- Governmental entities (municipalities; special, water and sanitation, conservancy, conservation and irrigation districts; water activity enterprises; counties; state agencies)
- Private entities: mutual ditch companies, non-profit corporations, individuals and partnerships
- Covered Entities (§37-60-126 C.R.S.) only if they have a CWCB-approved Water Efficiency Plan
- Must obtain written approval from at least one basin roundtable before applying
- Minimum 25% match (no more than half in-kind)

Reimbursement grant; 25% minimum match (no more than half in-kind); statewide account covers at most 75% of project cost; reimbursement starts only after a fully executed State Agreement.

Published amounts: No per-award cap published on the page. Guidelines (Jan 2023): 'A minimum of 25% match is required for all WSRF projects'; statewide WSRF funds will cover a maximum of 75% of the project. Grants may be coupled with any low-interest loan.

List of Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) Funding Opportunities