More Programs

The Southwestern Water Conservation District actively supports water-related projects and programs throughout the District’s nine-county region. Specifically, funding goes to projects that significantly impact water management and development, support data collection, and enhance water education in the region, as described below.

Over its more than 80-year history, SWCD has held conditional water rights across the nine river basins in southwestern Colorado to assist in the protection, use and development of water within the state. For the public benefit, SWCD currently holds conditional water rights on the Animas River: the SWCD/La Plata County Animas Service Area water right (to apply for their use, please see our webpage), the SWCD “Project” water right, the La Plata Exchange Plan and the San Juan County water right.

Water Management and Development

Colorado River Planning – policy efforts and engagement regarding southwestern Colorado’s compact obligations and drought planning
SWCD Grant Program – annual consideration of applications to fund water-related projects in southwestern Colorado
Weather Modification Program – cloud seeding operations in southwestern Colorado that increase precipitation during winter months
San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program – represent water development interests in the management of the recovery of the Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker

Data Collection

Center for Snow & Avalanche Studies
Federal Stream Gaging (USGS)
State Stream Gaging (DWR)
Water Quality Studies, including efforts by the San Miguel Watershed Coalition, Pine River Watershed Coalition, and mercury testing by Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Water Education

Ongoing Organizational Support and Memberships

Website Accessibility Policy

Southwestern Water Conservation District is fully committed to providing accessible facilities, elements and channels of communication to all members of the public. As part of this commitment, Southwestern Water Conservation District has a policy of providing an accessible website compatible with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) and commercial screen reading software. All features of the website are coded to allow individuals with vision and other impairments to understand and use the website to the same degree as someone without disabilities. We welcome feedback and can often resolve issues in a timely manner if they arise.

If you need any special assistance or accommodations:

Call us at 970.247.1302

Ongoing Compliance Information

Compliance Officer

Southwestern Water Conservation District has designated a compliance officer for website disability-related accommodations. The compliance officer has received training in website accessibility and updates the site in accordance with those best practices. Contact our accessibility officer to report an issue.

Compliance Procedures and Reports

In addition to testing with users with a wide range of disabilities and coding our website to WCAG standards, Southwestern Water Conservation District regularly scans its website to ensure ongoing compliance, and makes timely changes to any inaccessible changes, if any are found.

Linked Documents and Third Parties

Please note that this site may link out to third-party websites, such as state or federal agencies, that do not have accessible content. This site may also include documents provided by third parties included in our agenda packets, for example. While we cannot control the accessibility of content provided by third parties, we are happy to assist any member of the public with reading and accessing content on our site.

See an opportunity for us to improve? Please contact our accessibility officer or call us at 970.247.1302.

Report a Website Accessibility Issue

We are committed to your ability to access all content, and we will respond to all requests as soon as possible.