Serving the Roaring Fork Valley Since 1964
Basalt Water Conservancy District
Formation of the District
The Basalt Water Conservancy District (“BWCD” or “District”)) is a Colorado Water Conservancy District created under the authority of the Colorado Water Conservancy District Act, Colo. Rev. Stat. § 37-45-101 et seq. The BWCD was created by decree of the Garfield County District Court in C.A. 5593 on April 24, 1964. The District’s purpose is to conserve, develop, and stabilize supplies of water for domestic, irrigation, manufacturing, and other beneficial uses within those parts of Eagle, Garfield, and Pitkin counties included within its boundaries. Click here for a map of the District’s boundaries, which primarily includes the Roaring Fork and Frying Pan River drainages.
District Organization
The District is divided into seven divisions from which are appointed a total of eight directors who constitute the District’s Board of Directors. The District’s Directors generally meet on the second Tuesday of every month at the Third Street Center in Carbondale, Colorado at 7:00 p.m. However, meetings are occasionally vacated so please email or call the District to double check the meeting time, date, and location if you plan on attending.
District Operations
The District holds various water rights decrees as a result of adjudications in connection with the Basalt Project. The principle feature of Basalt Project is Ruedi Reservoir constructed by the United States Bureau of Reclamation on the Fryingpan River above Basalt, Colorado. The District holds contracts for storage rights in Ruedi Reservoir and Green Mountain Reservoir as well as direct flow rights, which it uses to secure dependable water supplies for water users within the District’s boundaries. The District uses its direct flow rights and storage rights in Ruedi Reservoir and Green Mountain Reservoir to provide year-round water right protection to its constituents. In most cases, those contracting with the District obtain their physical water supply from ground water wells or springs located in the Roaring Fork River and Fryingpan River basins.