Elbert County starts independent Denver Basin aquifer assessment

Elbert County has launched what it describes as its first independent, science-driven assessment of the Denver Basin aquifers, the groundwater sources supporting homes, businesses and agriculture across the county.

The county says the assessment will interpret decades of well data and examine whether wells are stable, whether development affects aquifer levels and whether its long-used “300-year rule” remains reliable. The goal is to replace speculation with a science-based interpretation. No assessment findings have been announced.

For Ramah residents and landowners, the review could inform future decisions about water use and land use. Groundwater supports homes, agriculture and development in the area, but the county has not disclosed the assessment’s methodology.

Comprehensive-plan update moves toward hearing

The county is also refining its comprehensive-plan update after more than 30 hours of Planning Commission working-group sessions. Completion is expected by October 2026, followed by a public hearing anticipated in late October or early November. The county identifies rural character, open space, working farms and ranches, responsible water use and managed growth as planning priorities. The plan remains in progress and has not been adopted.