Water Conservation on Grass Pastures in the Upper Colorado River Basin is Critical but Complex: Here’s What it Will Take

Raise Report 25-01 | Working Draft | June 2025 | A Final Revised Version is Planned for Fall 2025
Colorado State University | College of Agricultural Sciences & CSU Extension | Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

Click on the drop-down boxes below to access or download the report files:

Full Report

All Briefs (one page summary & supplemental information, tables, and figures) and Front Matter: Full Report RAISE 25-01

Front Matter

Cover Page, Acknowledgements, Table of Contents, Foreword: Front Matter

Introduction: Framing the Report

Making Voluntary Irrigation Withdrawals on Grass Pasture Work for Livestock Production and Water Conservation in the Upper Basin

Daniel Mooney, Dana Hoag, Seth Mason, Perry Cabot

Introduction

Brief #1: Measuring Water Conservation

Estimating the Water Conservation Potential of Voluntary Irrigation Withdrawals on Working Livestock Pastures

Perry Cabot, Adwoa Serwaa Amankwaa, José Chávez

Full Report: Brief 1

Report Summary: Brief 1 Executive Summary

Supplemental Info, Tables, & Figures: Brief 1 More Info

Brief #2: Assessing Impacts

Evaluating Yield Performance across a Spectrum of Irrigation Withdrawal Scenarios in Pasture-Livestock Systems 

Perry Cabot 

Full Report: Brief 2

Report Summary: Brief 2 Executive Summary

Supplemental Info, Tables, & Figures: Brief 2 More Info

Brief #3: Managing Implementation

Practical Guidance for Implementing Voluntary Irrigation Withdrawals on Pasture-Based Livestock Operations

Daniel Mooney, Perry Cabot, Dan Waldvogle, Mike Higuera

Full Report: Brief 3

Report Summary: Brief 3 Executive Summary

Supplemental Info, Tables, & Figures: Brief 3 More Info

Brief #4: Incentivizing Participation

More information coming soon.

Brief #5: Predicting Participation

Identifying Factors Associated with Farmer Willingness to Participate in Regional Water Conservation Programs

Seth Mason, Dana Hoag, Daniel Mooney

Full Report: Brief 5

Report Summary: Brief 5 Executive Summary

Supplemental Info, Tables, & Figures: Brief 5 More Info