Parker pays 52% of $1.1B cost for new Platte Valley water pipeline

The Platte Valley Water Partnership received water court approval in October 2026 for a $1.1 billion infrastructure project. The partnership includes Parker, Castle Rock, and the Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District. Ron Redd, general manager of the Parker Water and Sanitation District, stated that the ruling allows permitting and construction to proceed.

The plan involves building a 125-mile pipeline, a new plains reservoir, and diversion structures. These assets will move water from the Lower South Platte River region to the southern Denver metro area. Parker will cover 52% of the total cost. The Lower South Platte district will pay 27%, and Castle Rock will pay 20%, according to Redd.

Proponents argue the project prevents the practice of "buy and dry." This term describes the transfer of water rights from farmland to city use, which often leads to the land going out of production. Gene Manuello, a rancher and board member for the Lower South Platte district, said the need to protect farmland exceeds the need for additional water in the region. The deal includes rules that stop water taken off farm fields from being stored or delivered through the new system.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service reports that Colorado lost more than 30% of its irrigated agricultural lands over the past 30 years. Drought and urban expansion in Front Range cities have driven this loss. Cities like Aurora and Colorado Springs have purchased thousands of acres in the Lower Arkansas River Valley to secure water supplies.

The partnership holds a new 2019 water right approved by the court. This right allows diversion only during major rain events or floods, such as those seen in 2013 and 2023. The right is estimated to generate nearly 22,000 acre-feet of water for farm communities and an equal amount for urban areas. One acre-foot equals approximately 326,000 gallons.

Redd said phase one will focus on a diversion structure and pipeline for farmers, with completion targeted for the next five to seven years. Urban delivery is scheduled for 2040. Joe Frank, manager of the Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District, said the group is working to keep costs affordable for farmers, who typically pay less than urban users. Frank indicated the district may seek grant funding or a vote to secure bonding authority.

The project proceeds while Colorado and Nebraska litigate in the U.S. Supreme Court over South Platte River usage. Nebraska seeks to build the Perkins Canal to capture water it claims are owed under the 1923 compact. Redd said the partnership is building within the legal limits of that compact.