In Crowley County, much of the farm water was sold off the land long ago

If you are looking at land in Crowley County, the water question is bigger here than in many places, and it is worth understanding before you fall for a green photo.

In Colorado, a water right can be separate from the land it once watered. Crowley County is one of the state’s best-known examples of what water people call “buy and dry.” Over the decades, a large share of the irrigation water that once served the county’s farms was sold and moved to growing cities. Fields that used to be irrigated went dry when their water left.

What this means for a buyer is simple but important: a parcel that “used to farm” may not come with usable irrigation water today. Old ditches and dry reservoirs on the landscape are not a promise of supply. Likewise, the household water for a home is a separate question from any irrigation right, and either one may or may not transfer with a sale.

None of this is a reason to avoid the county. It is a reason to check carefully. Ask exactly what water serves a home, and whether any irrigation or ditch shares are still attached to the parcel and in good standing.

Confirm both the domestic water and any water rights for a specific parcel with Colorado’s Division of Water Resources (Water Division 2, the Arkansas basin) before relying on them. The Colorado Water Conservation Board also explains how agricultural water transfers work statewide.