Agricultural and Irrigation Water Leasing

The city’s Utilities Department manages the water leasing program. One of the ways the city manages the year-to-year variation in water supply is through its agricultural water leasing program.

In average or above-average supply years, the leasing program allocates the city's surplus water supply to qualified applicants for a single year. Agricultural water users can apply online for a water lease.

Interested water users must submit an online application each year. The water lease application opens annually at 12 a.m. on the first Monday in April. Any applications received prior to this time will not be considered.

• 2024 Application

The water leasing program is managed by the city’s Utilities Department. The online lease application process opens annually on the first Monday in April. at 12 a.m.

1. Interested applicants must submit an online application each year to be considered for the City of Boulder’s annual surplus water leasing program.
2. You can submit multiple applications if:
   1. You want water from multiple sources.
   2. You are applying on behalf of different ditch companies or organizations.
   3. Your cumulative desired volume from one source is more than 1500 af.
3. City staff will evaluate reservoir capacities, stream conditions, and water allocations for shareholders.
4. City staff will notify successful applicants of surplus water availability no later than July 31. The city will notify these initial recipients using the contact information provided in their online applications.
5. After notice of water availability, these recipients will have two business days to confirm their intent to lease. If the recipient does not respond within two days, the city will allocate the water to the next applicant in priority.
6. After the recipient confirms their intent to lease, the city will send them a lease agreement and invoice. The recipient must return a signed agreement and submit payment to the city within 10 business days. If the recipient does not respond within 10 business days, the city will allocate the water to the next applicant in priority.
7. Once they city receives a signed lease agreement and payment, the city will make arrangements to deliver the water to the lessees.

• To preserve City of Boulder agricultural leases as a low-cost, supplemental program, water will not be leased to any individual or entity that leases its native, CBT, or supplemental water to others that could otherwise be used for irrigation.
• If requested, lessee must provide documentation that water leased from the city was not used to replace water leased by lessee.
• Lessee must be aware of and follow the use terms and conditions as specified by the governing entity of each water source.
• Lessee must be aware of and follow the terms and conditions specified by the ditch company carrying the leased water.
• Leased water may not be subleased, transferred, used in different ways or at different locations than those defined in the lease agreement.
• Once the payment has been processed, no refund will be given on returned or unused water.