2025-2030 Strategic Plan
The Need for Strategic Planning
As water challenges grow more complex—with shifting hydrology, increasing demands, and heightened awareness of the ecological importance of healthy rivers—the District recognizes the importance of looking ahead. An updated strategic plan provides the opportunity to reaffirm the District’s mission, clarify priorities, and align resources with the most pressing needs of the basin. This plan is not only about setting goals; it is about charting a thoughtful course that honors the District’s history, builds on its current work, and equips it to serve future generations. By doing so, the District will continue to be a trusted steward of the Yampa River system and a reliable partner to the communities, ranches, ecosystems, and economies that depend on it.
2025 UYWCD Strategic Plan.pdf
Strategic Initiatives
The following three strategic initiatives represent the top priorities over the next five years to best advance both the District and the Upper Yampa Basin toward achieving the desired state.
5-Year Goal: Within five years, the District shall construct the new domestic water well for Stagecoach State Park, and advance Stagecoach and Yamcolo firming projects.
Strategies:
- Construct the new domestic water well for Stagecoach State Park.
- Create a Bear River Water Users and Storage Working Group.
- Advocate for the USFS Bear River Forest Plan to be updated.
- Renew Stagecoach firming project efforts, including technical analysis and permitting.
5-year Goal: Within five years, strengthen relationships with agricultural water users across the District through outreach and support that helps producers modernize infrastructure and adapt to a changing climate and regulatory environment.
Strategies:
- Enhance partnerships with CSU Extension, Routt County Conservation District, and Community Agricultural Alliance to identify opportunities for education and outreach including meaningful demonstration projects.
- Increase human resources to build and manage a database of water users and identify key agricultural leaders to help promote the District as a trusted source for water information and resources.
- Strategically continue to use the grant program to support producers in modernization and resiliency of agricultural divrsion and storage infrastructure.
5-Year Goal: Within five years, complete the first iteration of the upper basin (Bear River-Stagecoach) water quality model, including mitigation recommendations, and definition of District responsibilities. Implement Phase 1 of Wildfire Mitigation project.
Strategies for Water Quality Goals:
- Continue current efforts with water quality consultant.
- Finalize communication plan with CPW regarding Stagecoach algae blooms.
- Identify funds for mitigation within the budget.
- Engage in policy proposals at CDPHE relevant to District facilities and operations.
- Engage in county permitting process for development proposals in Upper Yampa source watersheds on water supply and water quality matters.
Strategies for Wildfire Goals:
- Hire forestry contractor to reduce fuels that could impact high-risk water infrastructure in the Bear River watershed.
- Complete USFS authorization/permit efforts.
- Prioritize non-fuel reduction tasks, such as culverts, and emergency preparedness.
The District's Perpetual Work
The District has many core responsibilities that it continues to conduct in perpetuity, including:
Continue to maintain, and where appropriate, perfect the District's water rights portfolio and increase flexibility to provide water for environmental and recreational purposes
Continue to ensure the District's infrastructure is safe and maintained of improved as needed to serve the needs of the District. This includes maintaining Stagecoach and Yamcolo Reservoirs as public recreation facilities.
Continue the commitment to a strong and skilled staff, legal and administrative resources to ensure District's viability and ability to effectively serve its constituents.
Continue to manage the District's financial resources sustainably to meet its stated purpose and goals.
Continue to advocate for Yampa River water resources and uses in Compact-related negotiations and rulemaking.
Continue to suppor the water users of the basin through augmentation plans that aid in protecting the beneficial uses of junior priority water rights.
Continue to support the needs of water users within the District through grant programs.
Continue to market water contracts out of the District's reservoirs for beneficial use, including for municipal, agricultural, industrial, environmental, and recreational benefit.
Continue to represent the District's interests in local and state matters regarding water resources policy, legislative, administrative, regulatory, and judicial matters.
Continue to increase public understanding of water issues in the Upper Yampa Basin and the role of the District in addressing them. Continue to work with partners to support achieving the desired state of water resources in the Yampa River Basin.
Policy statements.
- The District will be financially sustainable and able to meet its stated goals.
- The District relies on healthy functioning reservoirs, rivers, and streams in the Upper Yampa Basin for its agricultural, environmental, municipal, commercial, industrial, domestic and recreational cultures, and thus, its economic future.
- The District is committed to serving the public in agricultural, municipal, commercial, domestic and industrial uses, and identifying opportunities to support water-based environmental and recreational values.
- Climate change will be considered in planning.
- The District is committed to maintaining the structural and functional integrity and protecting the water rights of the District’s Yamcolo and Stagecoach reservoirs.
- Collaboration in watershed management is important to advancing the District’s mission.
- The District recognizes the critical economic, socio-cultural values, aesthetic, and environmental contributions that ranching and agriculture provide to the Basin.
- Direct flow and storage water requirements of prudent industrial uses, such as energy development and production, will be considered in planning for the economic welfare of the District.
- The District recognizes the importance of a long-term municipal water supply in creating a vibrant, diverse, and resilient local economy.
- The District recognizes that water-based outdoor recreational activities are critical to a thriving and resilient local economy.
- The District’s ability to manage and develop water resources within its boundaries are crucial to safeguarding the Basin’s water supply and depend largely upon local land use policies and practices.
- The District recognizes the importance of science-based water quality programs in maintaining the chemical, physical, biological, and aesthetic integrity of the Basin’s reservoirs, rivers, and streams.
- The District will participate in local and statewide deliberative processes to address climate, environmental, agricultural, social, political, legal, and economic challenges as they affect water resources.
- The District opposes any new transfers of stream flow or storage water from the Upper Yampa River Basin and its tributaries to other basins.
- The District will evaluate future water works that may be important to the District’s long-term success.
- As a taxpayer-supported public entity, the District will promote a two-way exchange of ideas and information with our community and constituents regarding the District’s programs and priorities.