SWCD is uniquely positioned to leverage federal funding to implement local water projects in their district for many reasons.

1.     Mission alignment with regional and state funding initiatives.

2.     SWCD is a local entity that can uniquely access and leverage federal funds.

3.     SWCD has the organizational structure in place with its existing grant program.

4.     SWCD has supported numerous projects in the Southwest Basin and helped collect information for many more.

5.     SWCD is a regional leader and has strong working relationships with the project proponents, partners, and stakeholders.

SWCD consists of nine sub-basins within the San Juan and Dolores River basins of Colorado.  SWCD was created by the Colorado General Assembly in 1941 “to protect, conserve, use and develop the water resources of the San Juan and Dolores River Basins for the welfare of all the inhabitants, and safeguard for Colorado all waters to which the state is entitled”.  SWCD currently funds water supply projects, recreational development, environmental improvements, community collaboration, water quality studies, and others that carry out the statutory purpose of the SWCD.  This experience makes SWCD an excellent entity to help connect federal funds to local projects.

SWCD’s strategic priorities are:

1.     In coordination with the appropriate partners, ensure the SWCD remains engaged in obtaining, updating, and analyzing water supply, demand, and quality data necessary to address the water management challenges facing southwest Colorado.

2.     Lead advocacy for southwest Colorado in Colorado River, interstate, and transmountain issues.

3.     Balance meeting multiple water needs amongst a diverse set of priorities, especially when there is potential for conflict or mutual benefit.

4.     Support investment in improvements to existing infrastructure as well as the development of new infrastructure for multiple uses in southwest Colorado.

5.     Strengthen the continued professional and efficient operation of SWCD while building a culture of mutual trust and respect.

6.     Cultivate SWCD’s credibility with decision-makers and the public through targeted outreach efforts.

SWCD’s statutory purpose and strategic priorities align with the goals of the Colorado Water Plan and the SW BIP.  The Colorado Water Plan and Basin Implementation Plans led by the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) are statewide and regional plans that identify priorities and projects to address water resource challenges in our state.  The Colorado Water Plan provides a framework for helping Colorado meet its water challenges through collaborative action around water development and water conservation.  Each major river basin in Colorado produced its own detailed Water Plan called Basin Implementation Plans (BIPs), within the larger framework of the State Water Plan.  The Southwest Basin covers the same nine sub-basins in the San Juan and Dolores basins as SWCD, with the addition of a portion of Mesa County (lower Dolores River).

he Southwest Basin Implementation goals are to:

• Balance all needs and reduce conflict.
• Support the needs of agriculture.
• Meet municipal and industrial water needs.
• Meet recreational water needs.
• Meet environmental water needs.
• Promote healthy watersheds.
• Manage risk associated with the Colorado River Compact and the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact.

A wide variety of projects and activities have been implemented since the first SW BIP was completed in 2015.  The ongoing and completed projects have achieved results that further the goals of the SW BIP and improve water management in the basin (SW BIP 2022, p.14).  Since 2015 over 97 projects have been completed or implemented.  Of these completed projects, 18 met agricultural needs, seven met municipal/industrial needs, four met environmental, and four were innovative and multi-benefit projects.  These funded projects received financial support through the Water Supply Reserve Funds (WSRF) program through the CWCB, the Southwest Basin Roundtable (SW BIP 2022, p.14-20) and the SWCD Grant Program.  There are many more future projects to implement that were cataloged in the 2022 SW BIP update, for which SWCD helped compile project details.  In addition, there are many other projects that did not make it on the BIP list for a variety of reasons including a lack of awareness of the BIP process or simply new developments since the list was completed.

There are many experienced and invested regional partners that can help SWCD leverage this federal funding to develop the program. These include:

• Southwest Basin Roundtable (SWBRT).  One of the nine basin roundtables that were formed in 2005 in Colorado “to facilitate continued discussions within and between basins on water management issues, and to encourage locally driven collaborative solutions to water supply challenges.  The SWBRT led the development of the SW BIP and provides funding for local projects and supports local applications to state funding sources.
• Colorado Ag Water Alliance (CAWA).  CAWA is comprised of agricultural leaders from across Colorado committed to the preservation of agriculture through the wise use of Colorado’s water resources.
• Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP). The TRCP is a policy-oriented nonprofit with the mission to guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish, is working to help ensure that federal funding is accessible to on-the-ground partners across the West.  They have recently conducted research on the challenges of accessing and utilizing federal funding for cross-boundary watershed-scale projects (2022 Universal Barriers Report).
• Colorado Farm Bureau
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC). TNC is working to position local place-based community collaboratives and Tribes to apply for and utilize federal funding for projects.  They are working in the San Juan and Dolores Basins.
• Trout Unlimited. TU is actively working to support local communities in designing and implementing multi-benefit projects. 
• Mancos Conservation District (MCD).  The MCD has successfully coordinated with local partners to grow their capacity to implement projects and have developed an integrated water management plan.  The District Manager, Gretchen Rank, piloted a Community Navigator position with the River Network funded by a CWCB Water Plan grant.
• Strategic by Nature (SBN). SBN is an independent consultant that has worked on many projects with organizations and communities to advance multi-benefit projects through planning, organizational development, grant writing, facilitation, and is local to the region.