The District, in cooperation with the State Division of Water Resources, has defined two distinct water service areas, denoted as “Area A” and “Area B.”

Area A encompasses those regions that are located near the Fryingpan or Roaring Fork Rivers, or on tributary creeks, that have water flows sufficient to satisfy the requirements of all senior downstream water rights on those creeks. Area A contracts may qualify for inclusion within the District’s “Umbrella Plan” decreed in 02CW77, as discussed below.

Area B is defined by those locations where the contractee’s water use may prevent a senior downstream user from receiving the full amount of water to which it is entitled. Examples of streams where this is the case include tributaries to the Roaring Fork River such as Cattle Creek, Blue Creek, Snowmass Creek and Woody Creek, where streamflows do not satisfy the senior water rights at all times. In Area B, the contractee must obtain an individual Plan for Augmentation, approved by the Water Court, in order to benefit from the District’s water rights. The plan may include District water rights to satisfy senior users downstream on the Roaring Fork and Colorado Rivers at times when streamflow in the local tributary is sufficient to meet the requirements of local senior users. However, at times when water in the stream is insufficient to satisfy the local senior rights, the Area B contractee will require another source of physical or legal supply to meet the requirements of the senior users on the local tributary. Applicants in Area B are not generally qualified for inclusion into the District’s “Umbrella Plan.”