What we do
Safeguarding Our Water Resources
Since 2002, the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District has served Pueblo, Crowley, Bent, Otero, and Prowers counties. Our focus is to safeguard the region’s water resources to ensure thriving irrigated agriculture, vibrant rural communities, and a strong economy for both current and future generations.
Four Priority Focus Areas
We Support Farmers and Rural Communities
Water Resource Protection
The Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District is dedicated to protecting our region’s most vital resource: water. We develop and invest in programs and projects that keep both water and water ownership in the Valley—helping sustain irrigated agriculture, strengthen local economies, and ensure a resilient future for our communities.
Irrigated Farmland Conservation
We partner with local landowners who want to permanently protect their land, water rights, and agricultural legacy. Through our conservation easement program, we work with families in Pueblo, Bent, Crowley, Otero, and Prowers counties to ensure that irrigated farmland remains in production today and for future generations.
Water Quality Improvement
Improving water quality across the Lower Arkansas Valley is vital to our future. We partner with farmers by providing technical expertise, financial assistance, and practical on-farm solutions to reduce naturally occurring contaminants from leaching into our waterways and to protect soil and riparian health. Together we’re working to improve water quality for both agriculture and people.
Advocacy and Outreach
We stand up for the Lower Arkansas Valley by advocating for policies that protect our water, support working farms, and respect the rights of rural communities. Our work spans policy, legislation, and regulatory engagements, along with media and community outreach, all aimed at promoting decisions that prioritize agriculture, rural communities, and their long-term sustainability. At the heart of our advocacy is a simple principle: one community’s growth should never come at the cost of another’s future.
For Farmers
We work with local landowners who are interested in permanently protecting their land, water rights, and legacy. We also offer technical and grant assistance with water quality and irrigation improvement projects.
For Communities
Our goal is to connect communities with information and resources on water issues related to Colorado’s Arkansas River Basin. We regularly attend events and provide presentations.
Our Projects
Since our founding, we’ve led a broad range of projects, studies, and strategic initiatives to protect water resources and enhance water quality across the Lower Arkansas Valley.
Why It Matters
When farmland is dried up so cities can grow, that’s not economic progress—it’s the relocation of opportunity from one community to another.
RECEIVE WATER NEWS AND ALERTS: