For the first time, Grand County can call upon a water right to increase streamflows in the Colorado River while providing environmental, agricultural and recreational benefits to the county. “It’s not very often, if at all, that the county would get access to this amount of water,” Stahla said. Grand County plans to use the water to increase flows in the Colorado River during periods of low water and high temperatures, according to Grand County Communications Director Christine Travis. After Northern Water acquired the water right, it worked with Grand County to develop the Operational Framework, creating a new use for the historic water right. According to Stahla and Travis, the agreement has a positive impact on Grand County and the Colorado River.