Our Water Rights -- What Are They Worth?

Many residents take their water for granted. Few have any idea how much their water rights, measured collectively, are worth.

MMWC's members own 1.04 cfs of relatively senior priority Beaver Creek water rights, with an initial appropriation dating back to 1865. 1.04 cfs amounts to 753 acre-feet per year.

Recently, the Pueblo Board of Water Works made an offer for shares of the Bessemer Ditch water rights -- most of which are also relatively senior -- equal to $9,000 per acre-foot. See the Pueblo Chieftan article on the subject.

At that valuation, MMWC's members' Beaver Creek water rights would be worth $9,000 * 753 = $6.78 million. Split evenly between about 1450 members, that amounts to about $4,675 per member.

But Pueblo's offer was for dirty ditch water. Pueblo is offering to sell its pristine Columbine ditch water rights for $22,800 per acre-foot. At that valuation, MMWC's members' Beaver Creek water rights would be worth $22,800 * 753 = $17.17 million. Split evenly between about 1450 members, that amounts to about $11,840 per member.

Also last year, the City of Broomfield paid $7.65M to acquire 525 acre-feet of Big Thompson water rights. This amounts to about $14,600 per acre-foot. At that valuation, MMWC's Beaver Creek water rights would be worth about $11 million -- or about $7,600 per member.

Our water is indeed a precious resource.

See also:
Colorado Big Thompson Water Right Price Trends, 1990-2003
Broomfield laps up some Greeley water