FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
The first share owned by each shareholder is designated as an A share. Any additionally owned shares are B shares. There is no difference between an A or B share with regard to the water right that is granted. Rather, an A share is assessed, or billed, annually at a higher rate than a B share.
Yes. Renting water grants the same right to water use as owning water does.
GVIC water rights are not attached to the land, and can be bought, sold, and moved elsewhere within the GVIC system. In order to sell shares, there are three primary requirements: (1) The annual assessment for that year must be paid in full (even if only a portion of the owned shares are being sold), (2) the stock certificate must be physically present in our office, and (3) a transfer fee of $30.00 must be paid per each new stock certificate. Please click for further details on this process, including additional paperwork that may be required in certain situations.
The annual water assessment is sent out in early January and payment is due in full by April 1 in order to avoid an interest charge.
One share of GVIC water is approximately 4.6 gallons per minute. This is a direct flow right, not a storage right. For further information, please see our Water Rights page.
To “turn out” water means to administratively assign one or more shares of water to a particular headgate on the system where the water is intended to be used. Find out where your shares are currently turned out.
Canal Facilities
No, GVIC adopted a no trespass policy for its facilities in 1988, and the Bylaws of the Company strictly limit the use of the facility to irrigation-related purposes.
The canals are inherently unsafe for the public. Drownings occur in the canals of the Grand Valley nearly every year. The policy also protects the employees of the Company, so that they can conduct routine operations and maintenance without risk to members of the public.
Furthermore, the vast majority of the land underlying the GVIC canal system is owned by private landowners. A no trespass policy serves to protect these private property rights, as well as the private property rights of GVIC. The facilities of the canal, to include the ditches, rights-of-way, roads, bridges, headgates, and other structures of the facility are all real property owned by GVIC, and unauthorized use of them can be charged as misdemeanor trespass under State law.
Before commencing any construction or alterations near the canal system, it is best to first contact our office to ascertain the location of the canal easement. Doing so will ensure that you are not encroaching into the easement, which would result in having to move the fence/structure and rebuild it in the proper location.
The GVIC canal system is protected by easements along the entirety of its length. Many of these easements can be found on recorded documents, while others exist by prescriptive right. The best course of action is to contact our office directly so we can assist you in ascertaining where the easement lies.
Drought
When the ditch or reservoir is not entitled to a “full supply” of water from the natural stream, Colorado law (C.R.S. 37-86-112) requires that the water received be “divided among all consumers” of that system. This includes shareholders, owners, and customers who purchase water.
The available water is distributed “pro rata (in proportion), according to the amount [each user] is then entitled,” meaning each person receives a proportional share based on their normal water rights.
In practical terms, this ensures that all users “suffer from the deficiency…each in proportion” to what they would have received in a full-supply year. Rather than some receiving full deliveries and others none, everyone shares the shortage fairly and proportionally.
Shareholder fees support the operation and maintenance of the irrigation system—not the volume of water delivered. Even in drought years, GVIC must continue to operate canals, headgates, and other infrastructure to deliver the available water safely and efficiently. These costs remain largely the same regardless of how much water is in the system.
Shares represent a shareholder’s ownership interest and their proportional right to water under normal conditions. During a shortage, Colorado law (C.R.S. 37-86-112) requires that available water be distributed pro rata, meaning each shareholder receives a reduced amount in proportion to their shares. However, the number of shares owned—and the ownership responsibilities tied to them—does not change.
In short, while water deliveries may be reduced during prorated years, the costs to operate and maintain the system continue, and shareholder fees reflect that ongoing responsibility.
Other
Once the water leaves the canal easement area and enters a lateral, responsibility for conveyance, operation, maintenance, and stewardship falls to the shareholder(s) of that particular lateral.
Water levels in the canals and laterals can fluctuate. To avoid water pump damage, water users should consider installing a low-pressure cutoff switch. The cost of a cutoff switch is minimal when compared to new pump replacement.
Normal water delivery is from April 1 to October 31, depending upon demand and climatic conditions. See our Notification Center on the home page to find more precise dates for this year’s irrigation season.
We currently do not accept cards, but we are able to take cash or check. Click here for our office location and hours of operation in order to pay in-person or by mail.
Annual Water Availability
Water was released from our main headgate over the weekend on Sunday April 5th. We expect to continue through October 30, 2026. If any changes occur, they will be communicated promptly.
Based on current and forecasted conditions, we estimate that our system will deliver 80% of our annual water supply this year.
Based on Climatic Conditions and Demand
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