Colorado Water Conservation Board - Water Conditions Monitoring Committee

The Water Conditions Monitoring Committee (WCMC) is a specialized body within the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), a division of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources ^[1][1] Colorado Water Conservation Board. "Water Conditions Monitoring Committee." CWCB Official Website, Accessed: 2026-03-28, https://cwcb.colorado.gov/Water-Conditions-Monitoring-Committee. The committee operates under a state-level mandate to monitor factors affecting Colorado’s water supply, including snowpack, reservoir storage, and climate variations ^[1][1] Colorado Water Conservation Board. "Water Conditions Monitoring Committee." CWCB Official Website, Accessed: 2026-03-28, https://cwcb.colorado.gov/Water-Conditions-Monitoring-Committee. It coordinates efforts between the Water Supply Planning and Watershed & Flood Protection sections while collaborating with agencies like the Division of Water Resources and external partners like the Colorado Climate Center ^[1][1] Colorado Water Conservation Board. "Water Conditions Monitoring Committee." CWCB Official Website, Accessed: 2026-03-28, https://cwcb.colorado.gov/Water-Conditions-Monitoring-Committee. The broader CWCB is governed by a 15-member board, including representatives from each major water basin and state officials ^[3][3] Wikipedia. "Colorado Water Conservation Board." Wikipedia, 23 February 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Water_Conservation_Board. This committee specifically provides data-driven technical updates to support monthly planning and drought response across the jurisdiction ^[1][1] Colorado Water Conservation Board. "Water Conditions Monitoring Committee." CWCB Official Website, Accessed: 2026-03-28, https://cwcb.colorado.gov/Water-Conditions-Monitoring-Committee.

Historical Background

The Colorado General Assembly established the parent agency, the CWCB, in 1937 through House Bill No. 6 to protect and develop the state's water resources ^[2][2] Colorado Water Conservation Board. "Agency History." CWCB Official Website, Accessed: 2026-03-28, https://cwcb.colorado.gov/about-us/agency-history. Originally focused on defending water rights and infrastructure, the board's role expanded in the 1970s and 1980s to include floodplain management and instream flow protection ^[2][2] Colorado Water Conservation Board. "Agency History." CWCB Official Website, Accessed: 2026-03-28, https://cwcb.colorado.gov/about-us/agency-history. The WCMC was previously known as the Water Availability Task Force before its renaming to better reflect its technical monitoring functions ^[1][1] Colorado Water Conservation Board. "Water Conditions Monitoring Committee." CWCB Official Website, Accessed: 2026-03-28, https://cwcb.colorado.gov/Water-Conditions-Monitoring-Committee. In 2015, the CWCB released the first Colorado Water Plan following a 2013 executive order, marking a shift toward measurable statewide conservation goals ^[3][3] Wikipedia. "Colorado Water Conservation Board." Wikipedia, 23 February 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Water_Conservation_Board. The committee continues to play a vital role in the state's Drought Mitigation and Response Plan, which was significantly updated in 2023 ^[5][5] Colorado Water Conservation Board. "Drought." CWCB Official Website, Accessed: 2026-03-28, https://cwcb.colorado.gov/focus-areas/hazards/drought.

Current Events

On March 16, 2026, Governor Jared Polis activated Phase 2 of the State Drought Mitigation and Response Plan based on recommendations from the WCMC ^[4][4] Sorensen, Chris. "Colorado activates Phase 2 drought response as conditions reach historic severity." Kiowa County Press, 27 March 2026, https://kiowacountypress.net/content/colorado-activates-phase-2-drought-response-conditions-reach-historic-severity. This action convened the Colorado Drought Task Force for the first time since 2020 due to record-breaking heat and low snowpack levels ^[4][4] Sorensen, Chris. "Colorado activates Phase 2 drought response as conditions reach historic severity." Kiowa County Press, 27 March 2026, https://kiowacountypress.net/content/colorado-activates-phase-2-drought-response-conditions-reach-historic-severity. During its March 17, 2026 meeting, the committee reported that February 2026 was the warmest on record, with temperatures 7.6°F above normal ^[6][6] Goodland, Marianne. "After 'winter of defeat,' Colorado hopes for wetter summer." Colorado Politics, 17 March 2026, https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/after-winter-of-defeat-colorado-hopes-for-wetter-summer/article_8b59828e-0453-11ef-9364-77f68e9e1c3a.html. Consequently, more than 64% of the state entered moderate drought conditions, with severe drought covering over a third of Colorado ^[6][6] Goodland, Marianne. "After 'winter of defeat,' Colorado hopes for wetter summer." Colorado Politics, 17 March 2026, https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/after-winter-of-defeat-colorado-hopes-for-wetter-summer/article_8b59828e-0453-11ef-9364-77f68e9e1c3a.html. Additionally, the CWCB approved $13 million for 48 water projects on March 18, 2026, though officials warned that funding for future initiatives faces a projected decline in severance tax revenue starting in late 2026 ^[7][7] Colorado Water Conservation Board. "Colorado Water Conservation Board Invests in Critical Water Projects as Demand for Funding Remains High." Colorado.gov, 19 March 2026, https://cwcb.colorado.gov/news-release/colorado-water-conservation-board-invests-in-critical-water-projects-as-demand-for.