San Luis Valley

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) wants to ensure that all residents and visitors to the San Luis Valley are aware of important quarantine regulations regarding the importation of Prunus species (which includes plums, cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, and more) into Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande, and Saguache Counties. These regulations are crucial for protecting local agriculture which is a major economic driver for the San Luis Valley.

Water was an important focus of our trip as it is a critical resource for agriculture. Part of the purpose of our visit to the San Luis Valley was to see irrigation projects and attend the Congreso de Acequias, an annual celebration of water, land, and community that shines a light on acequias as both irrigation ditches and forms of community self-governance. Throughout our visit, we were reminded that water plays an essential role in the communities of the Valley. 

Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg has issued the following statement of opposition regarding Renewable Water Resources' proposal to export water from the San Luis Valley: