The state will start work on a new "Colorado Water Plan" to figure out how to secure enough water supplies across the state to meet urban and rural demands, according to an executive order from Gov. John Hickenlooper. The governor on Wednesday directed the Colorado Water Conservation Board to start work on the draft plan.

Colorado is moving quickly to develop a state water plan by late 2015, culminating more than a decade of work. “I think it’s exciting for Colorado, when you look at all the work that’s been done,” said Alan Hamel, who represents the Arkansas River basin on the Colorado Water Conservation Board.

The state House Tuesday passed a bipartisan resolution to protect Colorado’s water supply and recognize the benefits irrigated agriculture provides to Colorado. “We want to make sure we protect water, it’s a precious resource,” said Rep. Lori Saine, R-Dacono. “Water is the lifeblood of our state.

Battered by drought and drained to a trickle by diversions, the Upper Colorado River got a bit of a boost as a state water court finalized a decree for three important instream flow rights that could help protect trout populations during low-flows.

Colorado’s cloud-seeding program for the central mountains ended April 10, just as a series of strong spring storms rolled into the area.

The Colorado Water Conservation Board today is launching a new website where residents across Colorado can quickly link to information about watering restrictions affecting their local community.

Colorado is entering its third year of drought, with the southeast part of the state rated in the most dangerous level of D-4, or extreme drought conditions.

The upper Roaring Fork River and the lower Crystal River are two of 19 sections of river in Colorado that the Colorado Water Trust has identified as high priority reaches for its 2013 water leasing program.

Montrose County has given up its objection to a state filing for in-stream flow rights on the San Miguel River in exchange for the Uravan Trust’s water rights when those become available. County commissioners on Thursday approved a stipulated agreement with the Colorado Water Conservation Board concerning the board’s application for in-stream flow rights.

The Colorado Water Conservation Board today voted overwhelmingly to end funding for the Flaming Gorge Task Force, which had been considering future large-scale water diversion projects such as the Flaming Gorge Pipeline.