Senate District 1 Race Shapes Colorado Water Policy
Northeast Colorado water users should track how the winner's stance on the Perkins County Canal affects South Platte River allocation.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Utilities
Live Poll
Should Colorado oppose the Perkins County Canal to keep its river water?
Republican incumbent Byron Pelton faces Democrat Jamie Jeffrey in the Colorado Senate District 1 election on November 3, 2026. The district covers much of the state's northeast, including Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma counties and part of Weld County.
Why it matters
Senate District 1 borders Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming, and the race's outcome will shape the state's representation on water issues tied to the planned Perkins County Canal. Nebraska is pursuing that project to limit how much water Colorado uses before it reaches Nebraska.
Pelton has held the seat since 2023 and seeks a second term, while Jeffrey has more than six years of Lochbuie Town Board service. The district spans six full counties plus part of Weld County, and the planned canal would draw from the South Platte River near Ovid, a town of 271 people.
The players
Byron Pelton
Republican incumbent Colorado state senator representing District 1 since 2023, seeking a second term, and a Sterling, Colorado native.
Jamie Jeffrey
Democratic candidate for Colorado Senate District 1 and mayor of Lochbuie, with more than six years on the Lochbuie Town Board.
The details
The Perkins County Canal would store water in reservoirs in western Nebraska and return it to the South Platte River near Paxton, Nebraska. Nebraska is leading the project to prevent Colorado from using all of the river's water before it crosses the state line. Because the canal's intake would sit near Ovid, Colorado's water supply and the policy choices of its state legislators sit at the center of the dispute.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Election day for Colorado Senate District 1.
Market Landscape
The Perkins County Canal is a Nebraska-led project designed to limit Colorado's upstream use of South Platte River water before it reaches Nebraska. Colorado's Senate District 1, which borders Nebraska, sits along the river corridor where that interstate water tension plays out.
Utilities, agricultural water users and municipal water planners in northeast Colorado should watch how the District 1 outcome may affect state-level positions on South Platte River water. Businesses that depend on water allocations should consult qualified counsel before making decisions tied to interstate water planning.
The takeaway
Water rights disputes between states can reshape the long-term cost and availability of water for utilities and agricultural operators, so any business with South Platte exposure should track how the Colorado legislature responds after the election. Operators should flag this race and the Perkins County Canal project in their regulatory monitoring and review any water-dependent contracts with counsel.
Further reading
For broader context on how water and power infrastructure shape state policy, browse our Utilities coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Greeley Tribune.
Live Poll
Should Colorado oppose the Perkins County Canal to keep its river water?
