Pueblo Water Agricultural Shares Change Case (2018-2019)

Precision participated on a team of experts on behalf of Pueblo Water to support their water rights change case though Colorado Water Court. The case sought to change existing Bessemer Ditch agricultural water rights owned by PBWW to allow for municipal and storage uses. However, as PBWW has numerous existing supply sources from water rights and projects of varying yields and reliability, the case was subject to an anti-speculation clause requiring PBWW to demonstrate a legitimate need for the additional Bessemer yields within a 50-year planning horizon. Precision performed the surface water modeling using the ABRW model to simulate the addition of the Bessemer shares, projected demands for the next 50 years, and future supply including supply being altered by climate change and potential Colorado River Compact calls limiting imported supplies available.