Division 5 Office
Applications & Tools
Colorado River Basin (Glenwood Springs)
Water Division 5 is the mainstem of the Colorado River; major tributaries include the Fraser, Blue, Eagle, and Roaring Fork Rivers. All of Colorado’s major Transmountain Diversion Projects originate in Division 5, including the Grand River Ditch, Colorado-Big Thompson, Moffat Tunnel, Roberts Tunnel, Continental Hoosier System, Homestake Project, Twin Lakes Tunnel, and the Fry-Ark Project. The major uses of the water resources of the Division, include irrigation, power, recreation, and municipal. Our staff administer water rights for water users, measure water flow and maintain gaging stations, inspect dams to determine safe water storage levels, and maintain water records within these basins. Water rights within the basin have yet to be curtailed to meet the provisions of Interstate Compacts, and thus unappropriated water remains available at certain times of the year in specific areas throughout the basin. Transbasin
Important Links
- Beginner Guides to Livestock Tanks & Erosion Control Dams
- Certified Well Tester List
- External Contacts for Water Resources FAQ's
- Interstate Compact Details
- Water Court
The Division of Water Resources (DWR) has focused on measurement rules in recognition of the importance of measuring both surface water and groundwater diversions. We are now conducting a formal effort to develop measurement rules in Division 5. Measuring surface water and groundwater diversions is important in Colorado to allow for accurate administration of water rights, establish a valuable record of use for water rights, and provide useful information for operating decisions.
Colorado water law requires that water diversions have a proper diversion structure and measuring device where necessary. Measurement Rules will give guidance, structure, and certainty to the Division Engineer’s implementation of that statutory requirement, which is critical in areas that are experiencing more demand, intrastate administration, and the need to protect Colorado interests related to the Colorado River Compact.
DWR will hold a series of in-person public meetings and one virtual meeting to discuss the proposed Measurement Rules. The dates, locations and start times are listed below. Additionally, the draft of the rules can be found linked in the table below.
- October 20th, 2025, Starting @ 5:30pm; Location: Grand Junction - Colorado Mesa University Escalante Hall 101 - Seminar Room (1020 Elm Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81501)
- October 21st, 2025, Starting @ 5:00pm; Location Edwards - Colorado Mountain College Vail Valley Room 250 (150 Miller Ranch Rd, Edwards, CO 81632)
- October 22nd, 2025, Starting @ 5:00pm; Location Kremmling - Kremmling Chamber of Commerce (203 Park Ave, Kremmling, CO 80459)
- October 30th, 2025, Starting @ 6:00pm; Virtual - Join Google Meet Video Call (Virtual Meeting 10/30/2025) (or) dial: (US) +1 302-364-6414 PIN: 663 323 002#
- November 12th 2025, Starting @ 5:00pm; Location Frisco - Summit County Community & Senior Center Hoosier Room (83 Nancy’s Place, Frisco, CO 80443)
- November 17th 2025, Starting @ 4:00pm; Location Glenwood Springs - Colorado Basin Roundtable CRWCD, Location: Colorado River Water Conservation District (201 Centennial St., Suite 200, Glenwood Springs, CO, 81601)
Please submit all comments on the draft rules through the Division 5 Measurement Rules Comment Form by December 19th, 2025. If you wish to submit your own redline version of the rules, please email it to marie.sullivan@state.co.us.