By Jerd Smith | The Colorado Sun
The state has spent $389 million in the past two years on programs designed to help Colorado stave off future projected water shortages even as it continues to grow.
During the last two years, from July of 2022 through July of 2024, the Colorado Water Conservation Board has funded $232.7 million in loans and awarded $156.3 million in grants, and completed about 20% of the projects and activities the Colorado Water Plan has identified are needed to ensure the state has enough water in decades to come.
The news came Tuesday as part of a water plan status update presented to the Colorado Water Conservation Board. The board is responsible for putting the plan into action and channeling loans and grants to dozens of major programs, including drought planning for farmers, turf replacement for homeowners and businesses, and helping prepare mountain watersheds and forests for wildfire.