Watershed Planning

Watersheds connect terrestrial, freshwater, and coastal ecosystems. They also provide ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, water supply, filtration, and purification. Colorado watersheds support multi-objective uses for both consumptive and nonconsumptive water supply. Approximately 80 percent of Colorado’s population relies on forested watersheds to deliver municipal water supplies. Watershed health management strategies that protect this domestic supply will also protect other uses in the watershed.

Colorado’s mountain watersheds have a strong influence on the quality and quantity of water. Watershed geography includes physical aspects, such as climate and geology, and ecological aspects, such as stream biology; but it also examines the relationships between humans, land and water. Healthy watersheds provide ecosystem services that benefit ecological processes, local and state economies, and social stability. Ecosystem services include flow regulation, flood attenuation, water purification, erosion control, dilution and flushing of contaminants, and habitat protection.

The following organizations engage in developing and implementing watershed plans in the Colorado Basin:

• Upper Colorado Watershed Group: http://ucrwg.org/
• Blue River Watershed Group: http://www.blueriverwatershed.org/
• Eagle River Watershed Council: http://www.erwc.org/
• Middle Colorado Watershed Council: https://www.midcowatershed.org/
• Roaring Fork Conservancy: http://www.roaringfork.org/