Ag producers seek info on leasing water rights as Colorado population booms

About two-thirds of those holding agricultural water rights in Colorado are interested in learning more about temporarily leasing their water for municipal, industrial, recreational, environmental or other uses, according to a report released Thursday by the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association.

The report summarized the results of a survey of 250 ag producers.

The association’s Ag Water NetWORK initiated the survey, which was conducted to better understand the interests, concerns and perspectives about leasing water rights.
As background, the state water plan, released in November 2015, estimates Colorado’s population of 5.4 million could nearly double to 10 million by 2050. The plan estimates that the…