The GMS Quota for the 2025 – 2026 Water Season was Increased to 55%.

The Groundwater Management Subdistrict (GMS) was formed in 1973 under the auspices of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District, providing augmentation service for hundreds of well owners. Before 1969, wells that pumped water from the alluvial aquifer could operate when needed. In the 1960s, downstream senior water users argued that well operation was injuring their senior water rights.

Agreeing with this claim, the State Legislature brought irrigation wells into the Priority System in 1969. They also realized that wells would be in priority so infrequently that it would mean crop failure. In an attempt to keep equity and economic viability, the Legislature passed House Bill 754, allowing wells to pump out-of-priority as long as they made replacements to the river to cover what they had consumed (depleted), preventing injury to any senior users. An augmentation plan is a court-approved system that demonstrates all depletions have been covered.

How the GMS Augmentation Plan Works      

Well owners pay an annual assessment to obtain a Class D Contract, which allows them to participate in the GMS augmentation plan. This money, combined with property taxes, is used to purchase and develop water sources. It also covers the cost of administering the plan, which requires extensive legal and engineering work, as well as water accountants and field operations staff.

GMS operated under a “Substitute Water Supply Plan” approved by the State Engineer while proceeding with the required legal process to obtain a Decree for an Augmentation Plan through the water court. The Subdistrict operated under this substitute plan for over 30 years. In 2005, GMS received its permanent decree from Division 1 Water Court.

Water Allotment Contracts

The owner of each member well listed in the augmentation plan enters into a Water Allotment Contract with the Subdistrict. The required criteria include landowner and wellowner information, legal descriptions of the irrigated parcels, the well permit number, and the well adjudication decree.  Does the well supplement surface water, and is the parcel sprinkler- or flood-irrigated?  All this information is used to determine the amount of acre-feet of consumptive use allocated to the contract.  The annual assessment, billed in January each year, is based on the consumptive use number.  Central’s Board of Directors closed membership for both Subdistricts in 2005 when we had to start issuing an annual quota and monitoring pumping. A new well can be added to the augmentation plan by purchasing acre-feet from a current contract holder.

Meter Reading

The flow meters are the property of CCWCD. Contract holders are responsible for monitoring and reading the flow meter.  The meter should be read on the first day of each month and reported by the 10th. Timely and accurate readings are vital to our augmentation plan.  If a well owner finds that a flow meter is malfunctioning, they are responsible for reporting it to CCWCD.  Centrals' staff will repair or replace a broken flow meter.

Quota Trading

Members of the Subdistrict may transfer their unpumped allocations to other members of the same Subdistrict. The contract must be in and remain in compliance with the terms of their Water Allotment Contract, the Water Conservancy Act, CCWCD’s Policies, Rules and Regulations, and all applicable terms of their permits and decrees to participate in Quota Trading. 

Download A Quota Trading Form

Permanent Transfers Of Water Allotment Contracts

In March 2012, the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District, the Groundwater Management Subdistrict, and the Well Augmentation Subdistrict Board of Directors adopted a policy regarding the permanent transfer of Water Allotment Contracts.

In most cases, when a parcel that is irrigated by a well is sold, the well(s) and Water Allotment Contract are included in the sale, allowing the new landowner to continue to irrigate the parcel. The board policy enables a Water Allotment Contract to be sold separately from the land under certain circumstances.

If a Water Allotment Contract holder is selling a parcel covered by the contract or changing the land's use so that the parcel will no longer be irrigated, they should contact CCWCD in advance to discuss options for the contract. If a contract holder is changing the name on the title to the property, such as transferring it to a business name or creating a trust, contact our office to avoid any issues with the contract. Every transfer or revision to a Water Allotment Contract is subject to the board's approval.

2025 Assessment Rate

2025 District Crop Data