GUIDING
PRINCIPLES

As an important partner in these discussions, we have developed a set of guiding principles that we encourage the Task Force to keep in mind. Our primary focus is to protect the agricultural industry to ensure a viable future for our farm and ranch families that are the backbone of our communities throughout the state.

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Guiding Principles:

• Do no harm. Any proposal must protect private property rights and should protect the ability of the agriculture community to continue production in a profitable way.

• Avoid creating disparity amongst ag producers. West Slope and Front Range ag producers rely on Colorado River water and should not be unfairly curtailed in the event of non-compliance.

• Plan for future curtailment – use this time to devise a strategy that will minimize impacts to ag producers if curtailment actions are required.

• Fight for fairness – no one region or type of water use that is junior to the compact should get a pass in the event of noncompliance - ag shouldn’t carry the whole burden.

• Discourage precedents that would negatively impact non-Colorado River basin ag producers.

• Make sure that if consumptive use water is conserved that Colorado gets credit for the savings.

• All consumptive use conserved by ag producers must be adequately compensated.

• Demand management arrangements must be voluntary.

• Any conserved water must be used for compact needs and should not be redirected for other beneficial uses.

• The threat of noncompliance should not be used to move water out of agriculture for non-compact needs.

• Oppose state ownership of water rights for compact compliance purposes.

• Any permanent transfer of water out of agriculture should be approved by the water court.

• Ensure that acquisition of ag water does not cause injury to other ag users.