The orchard mesa grand valley metering efficiency project in western colorado aims to improve water management and efficiency in the face of growing water scarcity

The Bureau of Reclamation awarded a $1.45M Project Grant to the Orchard Mesa Irrigation District (OMID) under the Colorado River System Conservation Pilot program (CFDA 15.567) on August 12, 2025. The Orchard Mesa Grand Valley Metering Efficiency Project will upgrade outdated metering infrastructure with advanced technology across the Orchard Mesa Irrigation District and Grand Valley Water Users Association service areas in western Colorado. The project will deliver real-time water use data, optimize water allocation, and reduce over-diversion from the Colorado River through precise measurement and control systems, with project completion targeted for December 31, 2028.

This conservation initiative supports the Colorado River System Conservation Pilot program's mission to create "system water" through voluntary compensated reductions in water use and ecosystem restoration. By implementing advanced metering and automated control infrastructure, the project will provide measurable conservation benefits to agricultural operations, regional communities, and the Colorado River ecosystem while addressing ongoing water scarcity challenges in the Colorado River Basin.

By upgrading outdated metering systems with advanced technology in both the orchard mesa irrigation district (omid) and grand valley water users association (gvwua) service areas, the project will provide real-time data on water use, optimize allocation, and reduce over-diversion from the colorado river, ultimately benefiting communities, agriculture, and the colorado river ecosystem.