Balancing Urban and Agricultural Water Needs on Colorado’s Front Range

Ketellaper discusses balancing and agricultural water needs on Colorado's front range. Water providers and land developers in the area have generally purchased irrigation water rights, thereby drying up irrigated farms to make water available for municipal purposes. The state of Colorado has promoted Alternative Transfer Methods (ATMs), in an attempt to preserve agricultural production while simultaneously making irrigation water available to support growth. As population continues to rise in Colorado and other areas of the Western United States, ATMs are likely to play an increasingly important role in balancing competing agricultural and municipal water demands.