The Calderon Plan to Defend Colorado Farmers’ and Ranchers’ Water Rights
- calderon4colorado
- Mar 8
- 2 min read
As I have shared with many of you on my travels throughout the last month, I have a passion for helping others. Farmers and ranchers are no exception! Clearly, there is tremendous concern about water rights and water use across Colorado. Fortunately for us, my husband is a cowboy with dual Master's in Agriculture and Business Agriculture, and is an expert in this field. We have discussed numerous ways to fight for individuals who are losing their water rights to large corporations buying up agricultural water rights throughout Colorado.
We have made a plan!
Here is the outline of that plan:
1. Fight “Buy and Dry” With Federal Incentives
Cities like Denver, Aurora, and fast-growing Front Range communities increasingly purchase agricultural water rights, permanently drying up farmland. I will fight against this.
Goal: Make keeping water in agriculture financially competitive with selling it to cities.
2. Federal Support for Water-Saving Agriculture
Many farmers want to conserve water but new technology is expensive.
As your U.S. Senator, I will push to expand programs through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Numerous policy implementations can facilitate a reduction in water use 20–40% without reducing yields.
That means: Farmers keep their rights AND conserve water.
3. Strengthen Federal Protections for Western Water Rights
Western water law is built on prior appropriation — “first in time, first in right.”
As your U.S. Senator, I will help ensure that federal agencies respect those rights.
Farmers want certainty that Washington won’t undermine state water rights.
4. Invest in New Water Supply (Not Just Redistribution)
Colorado often fights over existing water, but one solution is creating more supply.
As your U.S. Senator, I will push for:
New reservoir storage projects
Aquifer recharge programs
Snowpack capture infrastructure
Upgrading aging irrigation canals
Funding is available for water reclamation and water infrastructure programs.
My message to farmers:
Instead of taking water from agriculture, we increase supply for everyone.
5. Create Agricultural Water Protection Districts
Federal legislation could help states create Agricultural Water Protection Districts.
Within these districts:
Water rights tied to farmland cannot be permanently exported to cities
Only temporary leasing would be allowed
Farmers maintain ownership and control
This protects rural economies from being hollowed out.
6. Strengthen Colorado’s Voice in the Colorado River Compact
Colorado agriculture depends heavily on the Colorado River Basin.
Future negotiations could dramatically affect farmers.
As your U.S. Senator, I will fight for Colorado’s interests in the Colorado River Compact negotiations.
Priorities:
Protect Upper Basin agricultural allocations
Ensure cities share conservation responsibility
Prevent policies that sacrifice rural agriculture first
Colorado water should grow food — not just fuel urban expansion.
“Water built Colorado agriculture. Our farmers and ranchers turned dry ground into the most productive land in America. I will fight to ensure their water rights are not bought out, regulated away, or sacrificed to unchecked urban expansion. We don’t solve Colorado’s water challenges by drying up our farms — we solve them by investing in smarter infrastructure, stronger protections, and keeping water where it belongs: on the land that feeds America.” --Amanda Calderon, Candidate for U.S. Senate
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