Colorado Water Congress has transitioned the Summer Conference to an all virtual event being held Tuesdays and Thursdays for four weeks, beginning August 25 and ending September 17, 2020.

Week 4 Continued THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 STARTS AT 12:00 PM

Story Week

Groundwater in the San Luis Valley

San Luis Valley farmers work hard to manage groundwater levels. Then in 2020, another dry year. Is drought undermining the great accomplishments to replenish groundwater in Rio Grande? How is the basin coping this year?

Tackling Tough Questions

When data tells us we must change what we are doing, but facts on the ground say it’s too important to stop; what do we do? The Ogallala Aquifer is the world’s largest groundwater system, but aquifer withdrawals dwarf the flow of the Colorado River. Farmers, ranchers, scientists, community organizations and policymakers must work together to implement strategies to extend aquifer life. But how?

Milk River Project

Meriwether Lewis described the Milk River: “the water of this river possesses a peculiar whiteness, being about the colour of a cup of tea with the admixture of a tablespoonful of milk. From the colour of its water, we called it Milk River.” About 100 years ago, construction began on the Milk River Project to furnish irrigation water for 120,000 acres. Project storage is operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and distribution systems are operated by irrigation districts. Unfortunately, funding for maintenance has been scarce. We will hear the story of how a valuable project has become a victim of the aging infrastructure dilemma.

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE – STARTS AT 3:00 PM

Advocating for Equity 

The Water Congress Board has begun discussions on diversity, inclusiveness, and equity as connected to water policy in Colorado. This workshop will be an open discussion on the question of whether we really have a level playing field when it comes to water issues. There are many different directions that the dialogue could take including: safe drinking water issues and Latino communities, how we can better incorporate under-served groups into statewide policy decisions, ability to pay, human dimensions of natural resources, and Native American representation in water matters. Outcome: Attendees should expect an open discussion of the issues as well as to begin thinking about the participation of Colorado’s water community in the broader dialogue that is now in the public sphere.

STARTS AT 4:30 PM
Concluding Networking Event
Presented by POND