What We Do
The Colorado Water Center aims to connect all water expertise in Colorado’s higher education system with the research and education needs of Colorado’s water managers and users.
Water Research and Expertise
One of 54 nationwide institutes
Established as one of the 54 Water Resources Research Institutes under the National Institutes for Water Resources, the Colorado Water Center, a unit of Colorado State University’s Office of Engagement and Extension, contributes water expertise and research and serves as a convener of critical conversations addressing the intricate water challenges faced in Colorado and beyond.
Mission
The Colorado Water Center facilitates outreach, education, and applied transdisciplinary research to address complex and evolving water-related challenges facing Colorado, the west, and beyond by fostering collaboration, synthesizing water knowledge, and inspiring the next generation of water leaders.
Engagement and outreach first
- Serve as a trusted resource for Coloradans, providing access to water education, research, and information.
- Convene unbiased, science-based conversations, acting as a neutral facilitator for important water dialogues.
- Collaborate with colleges and universities to foster meaningful engagement with communities.
Programmatic focus areas
- Agricultural Water Management: Research and advance agricultural practices that decrease water consumption or increase water efficiency, including adoption of alternative low water-use crops and irrigation management practices.
- Water Education and Workforce Development: Provide accessible water education, training, and resources to promote water literacy and cultivate the next generation of water leaders.
- Water Quality & Access: Convene communities and water managers to identify needs and develop solutions to improve water quality and clean water access.
How we collaborate
The Water Center serves as a primary nexus between Colorado’s institutions of higher learning and a diversity of water resource stakeholders, including state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, community members, the private sector, and our global network of partners and affiliates.
- We bridge the gaps between community members, scientists, and policymakers by strengthening water-resource literacy.
- We connect diverse water stakeholders to higher education resources and expertise needed to ensure clean and reliable water for all.
- We build trust among cross sections of the community by facilitating and supporting collaborative dialogues and projects.
- We support water education programs in K-12 classrooms, fostering early engagement, and in adult education, expanding understanding of water management and resources in Colorado.
External advisory committee
Christina Burri, Deputy Director, Colorado State Forest Service
Alexandra Davis, Division Manager, Aurora Water, City of Aurora
Heather Dutton, Manager, San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District
Matt Ely, Director, USGS Colorado Water Science Center
Raquel Flinker, Director of Interstate & Regional Water Resources, Colorado River District
Kate Greenberg, Commissioner, Colorado Department of Agriculture
Taylor Hawes, Colorado River Program Special Advisor, The Nature Conservancy
Gene Kelly, Professor, Deputy Director, AES College of Agricultural Sciences, Associate Dean for Extension
Ken Knox, Director of Water Resources, Extraction Oil & Gas
Rick Marsicek, Chief of Water Resource Strategy, Denver Water
Leann Noga, Executive Director, Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District
Chris Piper, Legislative Liaison and Policy Analyst, Colorado Energy Office
Lauren Ris, Director, Colorado Water Conservation Board
David Robbins, President & Co-Founder Hill & Robbins, P.C.
Nicole Rowan, Director, Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
Travis Smith, Western Water Conservation Coordinator, National Wild Turkey Federation
Jason Ullman, State Engineer & Director, Colorado Division of Water Resources
Bruce Whitehead, Retired, Animas-La Plata Water Conservancy District
Brad Wind, General Manager, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District
The Colorado Water Center is a division under Colorado State University’s Office of Engagement, and supported by CSU Extension, CSU’s Office of the Provost, Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Need help?
Please contact us with questions or for more information.