Water Literate Leaders of Northern Colorado Leadership Program
2023-2024 Program
2022-2023 Program
2021-2022 Program
2019-2020 Program
2018-2019 Program
2017-2018 Program
2023-2024 Program
Resources for Class Members
Class Sessions
September Session | Overview and Historical Perspectives
- September Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- The Great Divide Homework
- Session Homework
- September Recording: Part 1 | Part 2
- John Tracy, Director, Colorado Water Center, Colorado State University — Introduction to Western Water
- Patricia “Patty” Rettig, Head Archivist, Water Resources Archive, Colorado State University — History of Water Development in the American West and Colorado
- Martin Carcasson, Professor and Director, Center for Public Deliberation, Colorado State University — Leadership Challenge
- Historical Perspective Resources
October Session | Water Law, Administration, and Policy
- October Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- Session Homework
- October Recording: Part 1 | Part 2
- Whitney Coulter, Esq., Associate, Fischer, Brown, Bartlett, Larson, and Irby, P.C. — A Quick Dip into Colorado Water Law
- Michael Hein, Lead Assistant Division Engineer, Colorado Division of Water Resources & Jean Lever, Thompson River Commissioner, Colorado Division of Water Resources — Water Administration in Northern Colorado
- Jeni Arndt, Mayor, City of Fort Collins — Leadership Challenge (No Slides)
- Jennifer Gimbel, Senior Water Policy Scholar, Colorado Water Center — Colorado River Law & Governance
- Karen Schlatter, Associate Director, Colorado Water Center — Empathic Listening Exercise
- Water Law, Administration, and Policy Resources
November Session | Water Supply & Storage/Delivery Projects
- November Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- Session Homework (In Progress)
- November Recording
- Brad Wind, General Manager, Northern Water — Northern Water and the C-BT Project
- Carl Brouwer, Project Management Manager — Northern Integrated Supply Project
- Kelen Dowdy, Water Resources Planning Manager, City of Greeley — Terry Ranch Project
- Jeff Drager, Director of Engineering, Northern Water — Field Trip to Chimney Hollow (No Slides)
- Water Supply & Storage/Delivery Projects Resources
December Session | Water for Municipalities
- December Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- Session Homework
- December Recording: Part 1 | Part 2
- Lisa Darling, Executive Director, South Metro Water Supply Authority — Leadership Challenge
- Todd Hanlin, Water Resources Manager, City of Loveland — City of Loveland Water
- Shane Hale, Town Manager, Town of Windsor — Town of Windsor Water
- Ty Bereskie, Deputy Director of Water Resources, City of Greeley — City of Greeley Water
- Mariel Miller, Water Conservation Manager, City of Fort Collins Utilities — Fort Collins Utilities Water
- Meagan Smith, Deputy Director of Public Works, Town of Wellington — Town of Wellington Water
- Chris Pletcher, General Manager, Fort Collins-Loveland Water District — Special Districts (No Slides)
- Jason Maxey, David Katz, Julie Jensen — Book Report on Water is for Fighting Over (No Slides)
- Mark Driscoll, Denis Symes, Staycie C. — Book Report on Confluence
- David Eisenbraun, Wesley LaVanchy, Nicholas Wharton — Book Report on Colorado Water Law for Non-Lawyers
- Ellen Hilbig, Jennifer Woods, Lauren Hillmer — Book Report on Downriver
- Water for Municipalities Resources
January Session | Water for Agriculture
- January Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- January Session Homework
- January Recording: Part 1 | Part 2
- Jim Yahn, General Manager, North Sterling Irrigation District — Overview of Agriculture in the South Platte River Basin
- Joel Schneekloth, Water Resources Specialist, Colorado Water Center — Realities of Using Less Water In Agriculture
- Karen Schlatter, Associate Director, Colorado Water Center — South Platte Salinity Stakeholder Group
- Brett Bovee, Intermountain Regional Director, WestWater Research — Overview of Alternative Transfer Methods
- Emily Hunt, Deputy Infrastructure Director, City of Thornton — Thornton Northern Properties Stewardship Plan
- Jessica Thrasher, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Leader, Colorado Water Center — JEDI In Water Leadership
- Water for Agriculture Resources
February Session | Water for Economic Growth and Development
- February Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- February Session Homework (in progress)
- February Recording: Part 1 | Part 2
- Karen Schlatter, Associate Director, Colorado Water Center — Stakeholder Engagement
- Adam Jokerst, Rocky Mountain Regional Director, WestWater Research, Fort Collins — The Nexus of Water and Economic Growth
- Patrick McMeekin, President of Land Development, Hartford Homes, Timnath & Kristin Candella, Executive Director and CEO, Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity — Water for New Development and Water for Affordable Housing
- Greg Peterson, Executive Director, Colorado Ag Water Alliance — Impacts of Buy and Dry on Agricultural Communities
- Lindsay Rogers, Policy Manager for Municipal Conservation, Western Resource Advocates — Best Practices for Integrating Water and Land Use
Planning - Water for Economic Growth and Development Resources
March Session | Water for the Environment
- March Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- March Session Homework (In Progress)
- March Recording: Part 1 | Part 2
- Kimberly Tekavec, Source Water Protection Specialist, Northern Water — Impacts of Climate Change and Extreme Events
- Chris Carlson, Stormwater Division Manager, City of Loveland — Impacts of Climate Change and Extreme Events 2
- Megan Maiolo-Heath, Communications, Outreach, and Marketing Manager, Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed — NoCo River Programs and Projects (In Progress)
- Laura Quattrini, Executive Director, Big Thompson Watershed Coalition — NoCo River Programs and Projects (In Progress)
- Josh Boissevain, Staff Attorney, Colorado Water Trust — Colorado’s Instream Flow Program
- Amy Beatie, Executive Director, Keep It Colorado — Leadership Challenge (No Slides)
April Session | Water for Recreation and Business
- April Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- April Session Homework (In Progress)
- April Recording: Part 1 | Part 2
- Wade Willis, Open Space & Trails Manager, Town of Windsor & Justin Scharton, Natural Areas & Trails Division Manager, City of Greeley — Water for Public Recreation
- Matt Reddy, Regional Biologist, Ducks Unlimited — Water for Private Recreation
- Erik Anglund, Rockies Water Team Manager, Occidental Petroleum — Water for Industry
- Erik Nielsen, Associate General Counsel, Leprino Foods Company — Water for Industry
- Diana Lane, Director of Sustainable Food and Water Programs, The Nature Conservancy Colorado — Leadership Challenge (No Slides)
- Deb DeBoutz & Laura Quattrini — A Land Made from Water
- Ethnie Treick & Nick Combs — Colorado Water Plan
- Julie Dubin & Tatum Cochran — Where the Water Goes
- Michael Bellus & Jessica Humphries — Colorado Water Law for Non-Lawyers
May Session | Looking Forward
- May Agenda (In Progress)
2022-2023 Program
Resources for Class Members
Class Sessions
September Session | Overview and Historical Perspectives
- September 14 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- Pre Session Homework | The Great Divide
- September Session Homework
- September Recording
- Patricia “Patty” Rettig, Head Archivist, Water Resources Archive, Colorado State University — History of Water Development in the American West and Colorado
- Zane Kessler, Director of Government Relations, Colorado River District — Perspectives from Colorado’s Western Slope as it relates to Northern Colorado
- Martin Carcasson, Professor and Director, Center for Public Deliberation, Colorado State University — Addressing the Leadership Challenge of Polarization and Groupishness
- Ten Essential Books to Understanding Water
October Session | Water law, administration, and policy
- October 12 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- October Session Homework
- October Recording
- Brent Bartlett, Partner, Fischer, Brown, Bartlett, Larsen, and Irby, P.C. & Whitney Coulter, Associate, Fischer, Brown, Bartlett, Larsen, and Irby, P.C. — A Quick Dip into Colorado Water Law
- Michael Hein, Lead Assistant Division Engineer, Colorado Division of Water Resources; Jean Lever, Thompson River Commissioner, Colorado Division of Water Resources; & Mark Simpson, Poudre River Commissioner, Colorado Division of Water Resources — River Administration in the Thompson and Poudre Watersheds
Presentations - John Kolanz, Partner, Otis & Bedingfield, LLC — Project Permitting Basics
- Amy Beatie, Deputy Attorney General, Natural Resources and Environment — Conversation, No slides
- Claire Bouchard, Director of Community Engagement and Communications, Community Foundation of Northern Colorado — Book Report on Cadillac Desert
- David Thorpe, Director of Entitlements, Hartford Homes — Book Report on Irrigated Eden, No slides
November Session | Water for Economic Growth and Development
- November 9 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- November Session Homework
- November Recording
- Adam Jokerst, Rocky Mountain Regional Director, WestWater Research, Fort Collins — Relationship Between Water and Economic Growth
- Patrick McMeekin, President of Land Development, Hartford Homes, Timnath — Finding Water for a New Development
- Jim Yahn, General Manager, North Sterling Irrigation District — Agricultural Development Perspectives
- Steve Malers, CEO and CTO, Open Water Foundation — Data for Water Development
- Lisa Darling, Executive Director, South Metro Water Supply Authority — Leadership Challenge
- Justine Schoenbacher, Water Conservation Coordinator, City of Greeley — Book Report on Water Resource Economics
December Session | Supply, Storage, Delivery Projects & Groundwater
- December 7 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- December Session Homework
- No Recording, Field Trip
- Jennifer Gimbel, Senior Water Policy Scholar, Colorado Water Center — Discussion on Colorado River Issues
- Brad Wind, General Manager, Northern Water Conservancy District — Northern Water’s C-BT Projects
- Jason Graham, Director of Water Utilities, City of Fort Collins — Halligan Water Supply Expansion Project
- Carl Brouwer, Project Management Manager, Northern Water Conservancy District — Northern Integrated Supply Project
- Sean Chambers, Director of Water and Sewer, City of Greeley — Terry Bison Ranch Project
- Joe Donnelly, Project Manager, Northern Water Conservancy District — Chimney Hollow Reservoir Tour
- Brian Hayes, Land Agent, City of Loveland — Book Report on Colorado Water Law for Non-Lawyers
January Session | Water for Agriculture (Virtual)
- January 18 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- January Session Homework
- January Recording: Part 1 | Part 2
- Andy Pineda, Agricultural Engineer, Larimer and Weld Irrigation Company — Ditch Company Perspectives (No Slides)
- Jeni Arndt, Mayor, Fort Collins — Leadership Challenge (No Slides)
- Brett Bovee, Intermountain Regional Director, WestWater Research — Alternative Transfer Methods
- Emily Hunt, Deputy Infrastructure Director, City of Thornton — Thornton Agricultural Water Stewardship Program
- Tim Gates, Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University — Water and Agriculture
- Scott Ballstadt, Director of Planning, Town of Windsor — Book Report on Beyond the Hundredth Meridian
- Mary Baird, Director of Global Sales & Project Enablement, Hach — Book Report on The Ripple Effect
February Session | Water for Recreation and Business
- February 15 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- February Session Homework
- February Recording: Part 1 | Part 2
- Wade Willis, Open Spaces & Trails Manager, Town of Windsor — Water for Public Recreation
- Justin Scharton, Natural Areas & Trails Division Superintendent, City of Greeley — Water for Public Recreation (Same Presentation)
- Brad Modesitt, Owner, Mountain Whitewater — Water for Private Recreation
- Greg Kernohan, Director of Conservation Programs, Ducks Unlimited — Water for Private Recreation
- Erik Anglund, Rockies Water Team Manager, Occidental Petroleum — Water for Industry
- Governor Bill Ritter, Jr., Former Colorado Governor and Founder & Director of the Center for the New Energy Economy @ Colorado State University — Leadership Challenge (No Slides)
- Carol Dollard, Energy & Sustainability Program Manager, Colorado State University — Book Report on What the Eyes Don’t See
- Janese Younger, Senior Vice President, FirstBank — Book Report on Running Dry
- Alan MacGregor, Board Member, Windsor Water and Sewer Board — Book Report on The Last Water Hole in the West (No Slides)
March Session | Water for the Environment
- March 15 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- March Session Homework (In Progress)
- March Recording: Part 1 | Part 2
- Dale Trowbridge, General Manager, New Cache La Poudre Irrigating Company — Poudre Runs Through It (No Slides)
- Shayna Jones, Post-Fire Mitigation and Recovery Program Manager, Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed — Poudre River Watershed Health
- Eric Potyondy, Assistant City Attorney, City of Fort Collins — Augmentation to Improve Wetlands Habitats
- Larry Rogstad, Board President, Big Thompson Watershed Coalition — Big Thompson River Corridor Notes
- Chris Carlson, Stormwater Division Manager, City of Loveland — Big Thompson River Corridor
- Kate Ryan, Senior Staff Attorney & Director of Programs, Colorado Water Trust – Colorado’s Instream Flow Program
- Sally Boccella, Northern Colorado Regional Director, Office of US Senator John Hickenlooper — Book Report on Cache La Poudre: The Natural History of a Rocky Mountain River
- Scott Baily, Conservation Chair, Rocky Mountain Flycasters — Book Report on Pulse of the River
April Session | Water for Municipalities
- April 12 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- April Session Homework (In Progress)
- April Recording: Part 1 | Part 2
- Lindsay Rogers, Water Policy Analyst, Western Resource Advocates — Water Conservation and Demand Management Through Land Use Planning
- Mariel Miller, Water Conservation Manager, City of Fort Collins — Water Supply and Demand: Municipal Organizations
- Shane Hale, Town Manager, Town of Windsor — Water Supply and Demand: Municipal Organizations
- Todd Hanlin, Water Resources Manager, City of Loveland — Water Supply and Demand: Municipal Organizations
- Jen Dial, Water Resources Manager, City of Fort Collins — Water Supply and Demand: Municipal Organizations
- Meagan Smith, Deputy Director of Public Works, Town of Wellington — Water Supply and Demand: Municipal Organizations
- Richard Raines, Water Resources Manager, Tri-Districts — Water Supply and Demand: Special Districts Part 1 | Part 2
- Jessica Thrasher, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Engagements Program Manager, Colorado Water Center — JEDI in Leadership
- Brad Curtis, Director of Municipal Services, Northern Engineering — Book Report on Written in Water (No Slides)
- Heidi Pruess, Climate and Sustainability Program Manager, Larimer County — Book Report on Centennial
- Richard Alper, President, Big Thompson Watershed Coalition — Book Report on The Colorado Doctrine
- Extra Resources: Tips for a Successful Virtual Bilingual Event
May Session | Wrapping it all up
- May 17 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- No Homework
- May Recording
- Laurie Kadrich, Board of Commissioners, Assistant County Manager & Jody Shadduck-McNally, County Commissioner, District 3 — Larimer County Regional Water Study
- Diana Lane, Sustainable Food and Water Director, The Nature Conservancy — Leadership Challenge
- Jordana Barrack, Executive Director, Mighty Arrow Foundation & Carol Cochran, Owner, Horse and Dragon Brewing — Connecting Water Literate Leaders To Your Career (No Slides)
- Carrie Rossman, Vice President of Association Advancement, YMCA of the Rockies — Book Report on The Man Who Thought He Owned Water
- Mitzi McCoy, Deputy Town Manager, Town of Johnstown — Book Report on A Land Made From Water
- Shirley Peel, Councilmember, City of Fort Collins — Book Report on Let There Be Water
- Cheri Witt-Brown, Executive Director, Greeley-Weld Habitat for Humanity — Book Report on Confluence
2021-2022 Program
Resources for Class Members
Class Sessions
September Session | Overview and historical perspectives
- September 29 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- Pre Session Homework | The Great Divide
- September Session Homework
- Brian Werner, Northern Water (retired) — History of Water Development in the American West and Colorado
- Amy Moyer, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Colorado River District — Perspectives from Colorado’s Western Slope as it relates to Northern Colorado
- Martin Carcasson, Professor and Director, Center for Public Deliberation, Colorado State University — Addressing the Leadership Challenge of Polarization and Groupishness
- Ten Essential Books to Understanding Water
- Colorado River District Demand Management Stakeholder Advisory Committee Report
October Session | Water law, administration, and policy
- October 27 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- October Session Homework
- Dan Brown, Attorney at Fischer, Brown, Barlett, Larsen & Irby P.C.; and Counsel for the Cache La Poudre Water Users Association & Whitney Phillips, Associate at Fischer, Brown, Barlett, Larsen & Irby P.C.
- — Water in NOCO : Meeting an evolving necessity
- Michael Hein, Assistant Division Engineer, Water Division 1 — Colorado Division of Water
Resources - Jean Lever, Thompson River Commissioner, CO Division of Water Resources — Colorado Division of Water Resources
- Mark Simpson, Poudre River Commissioner, CO Divisions of Water Resources — Colorado Division of Water Resources
- Christian Morgan, Town Manager of Kersey, CO — Colorado Water Law for Non-Lawyers; book report
- Jaime Henning, President & CEO of Greeley Area Chamber of Commerce — Silver Fox of the Rockies; The Delph Carpenter Story; book report
- Water Education Colorado Factsheet: Colorado’s Instream Flow Program
- Handout: A summary of Colorado Water Law — By Michael F. Browning
- Handout: Colorado Water Court
- Colorado Division of Water Resources
November Session | Municipal water supply, wastewater, and stormwater management
- November 17 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- November Session Homework
- Janene Willey, Secretary, Town of Windsor Water & Sewer Board — Book Report: The Future of Water by Steve Maxwell
- Amber Graves, Manager/Farm Hand, Morning Fresh Dairy Farm — Book Report: Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner
- Wyatt Knutson, Regional Manager, CTL Thompson
- Sean Chambers, Director, Water and Sewer Department, City of Greeley — Water Supply Perspectives: Municipal Organizations
- Jim Becklenberg, City Manager, City of Evans — Water Supply Perspectives: Municipal Organizations
- Todd Hanlin, Water Resources Manager, City of Loveland — Water Supply Perspectives: Municipal Organizations
- Shane Hale, Town Manager, Town of Windsor — Water Supply Perspectives: Municipal Organizations
- Bob Gowing, Public Works Director, Town of Wellington — Water Supply Perspectives: Municipal Organizations
- Liesel Hans, Water Conservation Manager, City of Fort Collins — Water Supply Perspectives: Municipal Organizations
- Richard Raines, Water Resources Assistant Manager, Tri-Districts —
- Eric Reckentine, District Manager, North Weld County Water District — Water Supply Perspectives: Special Districts
- Mike Scheid, General Manager, East Larimer County Water District — Water Supply Perspectives: Special Districts
- Chris Matkins, District Manager, Fort Collins-Loveland Water District and South Fort Collins Sanitation District — Water Supply Perspectives: Special Districts
- Lisa Darling, Executive Director, South Metro Water Supply Authority — Colorado Water: A Leadership Challenge
- City of Fort Collins – Low Impact Development Project: Library Park Rain Garden
- Water Infrastructure and Supply Efficiency Partnership (WISE)
December Session | Water and agriculture
- December 8 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- December Session Homework
- Matt LeCerf, Town Manager, Town of Johnstown — Book Report: Down River by Heather Hansman
- Andy Pineda Agricultural Engineer, Larimer and Weld Irrigation Company — Map of Larimer and Weld Irrigation Co service area
- Emily Hunt, Deputy Infrastructure Director, City of Thornton — City of Thornton’s Northern Properties Stewardship Plan
- Brett Bovee, Intermountain Regional Director, WestWater Research — Water, Agriculture and ATMs
- Rob Graves, Owner, Graves Dairy — Farming on Colorado’s Front Range
January Session | Water for recreation and business
- January 19 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- January Session Homework
- Kevin Ross, Vice President, Poudre Valley Capital — Book Report: Confluence: The Story of Greeley Water
- Dawson Metcalf, Program Coordinator for Conservation Leadership, Colorado State University — Book Report: Contested Waters: An Environmental History of the Colorado River
- Kim Perry, VP for Community Design & Neighborhood Development, McWhinney — Book Report: Where the Water Goes by David Owen
- Wade Willis, Open Space & Trails Manager, Town of Windsor and Justin Scharton, Natural Areas and Trails Division Superintendent, City of Greeley — Presentation on the Cache La Poudre Natural Heritage Area
- Brad Modesitt, Owner, Mountain Whitewater — Recreation on the Cache La Poudre
- Greg Kernohan, Director of Conservation Programs, Ducks Unlimited — Sustainable Futures: the Role of Wetlands
- Erik Anglund, Rockies Water Team Manager, Occidental Petroleum — Oil and Natural Gas in Colorado
- Erik Nielsen, Senior Corporate Counsel, Leprino Foods Company — Water for Industry in Colorado
February Session | Water for the environment
- February 16 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- February Session Homework
- Hally Strevey, Executive Director, Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed — Wildfire in the Watershed: The Cameron Peak Fire
- Eric Potyondy, Assistant City Attorney, City of Fort Collins — City of Fort Collins: Selected Environmental Water Projects
- Jen Shanahan, Senior Watershed Planner, City of Fort Collins — Poudre River Report Card
- Larry Rogstad, Board President, Big Thompson Watershed Coalition — Presentation on Big Thompson Watershed Coalition
- Andrew Fayram, Source Water Coordinator, City of Loveland — Source Water Quality Monitoring in the Big Thompson Watershed
- Chris Carlson, Civil Engineer, City of Loveland — Big Thompson: River Corridor Master Plan
- Doug Swartz, Involved Northern Colorado Resident — The Important of Multiple Voices in the Room
- Pete Conovitz, Water Resource Specialist, Colorado Water Conservation Board — Colorado Instream Flow Program
- Laura Fields-Sommers, Hydrographer, Colorado Water Conservation Board — Colorado Instream Flow Program
- Diana Lane, Director of Sustainable Food and Water Programs, The Nature Conservancy
- Post-Flood Recovery Assessment and Stream Restoration Guidelines for the Colorado Front Range
- Rebuilding Flood-Damaged Diversion Structures to Benefit Multiple Uses
- Poudre River Report Card
- The Nature Conservancy Colorado River Program
- Ten Tribes Partnership
- Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan
March Session | Economic growth and development
- March 30 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- March Session Homework
- Ann Hutchison, President & CEO, Ft. Collins Area Chamber of Commerce – An Overview of Northern Colorado Economic Health/Economic Development Strategy
- Patrick McMeekin, President of Land Development, Hartford Homes, Timnath, CO – Finding Water for a New Development
- Jim Yahn, North Sterling Irrigation District – Agricultural Development Perspectives
- Steve Malers, CEO and CTO, Open Water Foundation – Data for Water Development
- Anne Castle, Senior Fellow, Getches Wilkinson Center, University of Colorado – Leadership Challenge: Best Practices for Implementing Water Conservation and Demand Management Through Land Use Planning Efforts
- Eric Lucas, Public Services Director | Town of Windsor – The Big Thirst
- Dave Beede, Chapter Vice President | Rocky Mountain Flycasters – For the Love of Rivers
April Session | Supply and storage/delivery projects
- April 27 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- April Session Homework
- Carl Brouwer, Project Management Manager, Northern Water – Northern Integrated Supply Project
- Alice Conovitz, Permit Coordinator, City of Fort Collins – Halligan Water Supply
Project – Reservoir Expansion - Adam Jokerst, Deputy Director of Water and Sewer, City of Greeley – Terry
Ranch Project - John Kolanz, Partner at Otis & Bedingfield, LLC – The Silver Fox of the Rockies
- Bradley Wind, General Manager at Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District – Colorado – Big Thompson Project
- Jeff Drager, Director of Engineering, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District – Windy Gap Firming Project
- Jennifer Gimbel, Interim Director of the Colorado Water Center – Colorado River: Law, Management and Policy
May Session | Bringing it all together, opportunities for regional cooperation
- May 18 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
Class Resources
2019-2020 Program
Resources for Class Members
Class Sessions
September Session | Overview, historical perspectives, and dialogue with regional and state water leaders
- September 4 Session Agenda
- Pre Session Homework | The Great Divide
- September Session Homework
- Speaker Biographies
- Brian Werner, Public Information Officer, Northern Water — Historical Perspectives of the South Platte, Poudre, and Big Thompson rivers
- Handout: Irrigation Development in Northern Colorado: A Brief History of How Water Influenced the Development of the Fort Collins Region — By Brian Werner, Northern Water
- Jim Yahn, Manger, North Sterling Irrigation District — The Colorado Water Conservation Board, South Platte Basin Roundtable, and perspectives from the mainstem of the South Platte
- Chris Treese, External Affairs Manager, Colorado River District — Perspectives from Colorado’s Western Slope as it relates to Northern Colorado
- Martin Carcasson, Director, Center for Public Deliberation, Colorado State University — Addressing the Leadership Challenge of Polarization and Groupishness
- Water in the West — Friends of Loveland Public Library event calendar
- Uncertainty: Count on it – Feast of Famine on the Colorado River — Colorado River District Annual Water Seminar, Wednesday, September 18, Colorado Mesa University
October Session | Water law, administration, and policy
- October 2 Session Agenda
- October Session Homework
- Speaker Biographies
- Ryan Donovan, Attorney, Lawrence, Jones, Custer, Grasmick, LLP — A Quick Dip into Colorado Water Law
- Corey DeAngelis, Mark Simpson and Jean Lever — Overview of the Colorado Division of Water Resources
- Handout: A summary of Colorado Water Law — By Michael F. Browning
- Handout: Colorado Water Court
- Colorado Division of Water Resources
November Session | Municipal water supply, wastewater, and stormwater management
Domestic Water Providers – Municipalities and Special Districts
Sean Chambers, Director, Water and Sewer Department, City of Greeley Jim Becklenberg, City Manager, City of Evans Larry Howard, Water Resources Manager, City of Loveland John Thornhill, Community Development Director and acting Water Resources Manager, Town of Windsor Ed Cannon, Town Administrator, Town of Wellington Carol Webb, Deputy Utilities Director, City of Fort Collins Loren Maxey, Board of Directors Chairman and District President, East Larimer County Water District Chris Matkins, District Manager, Fort Collins-Loveland Water District
- City of Fort Collins – Low Impact Development Project: Library Park Rain Garden
- Water Infrastructure and Supply Efficiency Partnership (WISE)
December Session | Water and growth
- December 18 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- December Session Homework
- David May, Executive Director, Ft. Collins Area Chamber of Commerce — An Overview of Northern Colorado Economic Health/Economic Development Strategy
- Patrick McMeekin, Vice President of Land Development, Partner, Hartford Homes — What is the Nexus Between Affordable Housing and the Price of Water From the Poudre?
- Chris Carlson, Civil Engineer, Public Works Department, Stormwater Engineering Division, City of Loveland — Big Thompson River Corridor Master Plan
- Water Research Foundation: Integrating Land Use and Water Resources
- Best Practices for Implementing Water Conservation and Demand Management Through Land Use Planning Efforts
- Colorado Water Plan – Integrating Water and Land Use Planning
January Session | Water storage & delivery projects
- January 15 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- January Session Homework
- Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District
- Adam Jokerst, Deputy Director of Water Resources, City of Greeley — Milton Seaman Water Supply Project
- Eileen Dornfest, Special Projects Manager, City of Fort Collins — Halligan Water Supply Project
- City of Fort Collins video on Halligan Water Supply Project Update September 2019
- Mark Koleber, Thornton Water Project Director, City of Thornton — Thornton Water Project
- Forests to Faucets Program
- Gross Reservoir Expansion Project
February Session | Water for the environment
- February 19 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- February Session Homework
- Jen Kovecses, Executive Director, Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed — Forests are the Guardians of our Water Supply
- Jen Shanahan, Watershed Planner, City of Fort Collins Natural Areas — State of the Poudre – A River Health Assessment
- Eric Potyondy, Assistant City Attorney, City of Fort Collins — Poudre River Augmentation Plan
- Courtney Gutman, Director, Big Thompson Watershed Coalition — Big Thompson River Restoration Projects
- Robert Viehl, Water Resources Specialist, Colorado Water Conservation Board — Protecting Stream Flows through Colorado’s Instream Flow Program
- Post-Flood Recovery Assessment and Stream Restoration Guidelines for the Colorado Front Range
- Rebuilding Flood-Damaged Diversion Structures to Benefit Multiple Uses
- Colorado House Bill 20-1037 and Colorado House Bill 20-1037 Fact Sheet
- Poudre River Report Card
- The Nature Conservancy Colorado River Program
- Ten Tribes Partnership
- Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan
March Session | Water for recreation and business
- March 11 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biographies
- March Session Homework
- Wade Willis, Open Space & Trails Manager, Town of Windsor — Open Lands and Trails and the Poudre River Trail
- Ben Costello, Director of Fun, Mountain Whitewater & Paddler’s Pub — Recreation on the Cache la Poudre
- Greg Kernohan, Director of Conservation Programs, Ducks Unlimited — Sustainable Futures: The Role of Wetlands
- Katie Wallace, Director of Social and Environmental Impact, New Belgium Brewing Company — Water + Beer
- Erik Anglund, Rockies Water Team Manager, Occidental Petroleum — Oil and Natural Gas (and Water) in Colorado
- Erik Nielson, Senior Corporate Counsel, Leprino Foods Company — Leprino Foods Business Perspectives
- Leprino Foods Company video
- BreWater
- Poudre River Trail Corridor
- Colorado Water Plan
- Poudre River Whitewater Park
April Session | Water for agriculture
- April 8 Session Agenda
- Speaker Biography
- April Session Homework
- Brett Bovee, Intermountain Regional Director, WestWater Research — Water, Agriculture, and ATMs
- Alternative Transfer Methods Flexible & Innovative Water Supply Alternatives a Guide for Local Leaders in Colorado — Prepared by WaterNow Alliance
- Alternative Water Transfers in Colorado: A Review of Alternative Transfer Mechanisms for Front Range Municipalities — Prepared for the Environmental Defense Fund by WestWater Research
- Other recommended readings on agricultural water and ATMs
- Agriculture section of the Colorado Water Plan
- Colorado Water newsletters: Alternative Transfer Methods and Agricultural Water Conservation
- Water Education ColoradoHeadwaters:
- Fall 2017: Can Colorado Save Its Farms
- Fresh Water News Letter: Colorado needs its ag water. How else will the state maintain its food security?
- Fresh Water News Report: Colorado’s farm water use exceeds national average, despite efforts to conserve
- Colorado Ag Water Alliance (CAWA)
- Irrigation Innovation Consortium
- What Are Alternative Transfer Methods?
- Alternative Methods to Success: New ATMs seen as solutions to Colorado’s buy-and-dry problem
- Savior of rural landscapes or Solomon’s choice? Colorado’s experiment with alternative transfer methods for water (ATMs)
- Improving the Viability of Alternative Water Transfer Methods (ATMs) in Colorado: A Synthesis of Research and Findings from the Getches‐ Wilkinson Center, 2014‐2015
Final Session | Bringing it all together, opportunities for regional cooperation
- Session Agenda – Date TBD
- Final Session Homework
Class Resources
2018-2019 Program
Resources for Class Members
- Curriculum Overview
- Map of Class Members
- Session Facilitation Assignment
- Book/Film Report Assignment
Class Sessions
September Session | Class Overview
October Session | Water Law and Administration
- October Session Agenda
- October Session Homework
- October 19 Thompson River Watershed Field Trip Agenda
- A Conceptual Framework for Water Ethics
- Water Law Basics, Andy Jones
- The Rule of Law
- Colorado’s “Rule and 3 Exceptions”
- Addressing the Leadership Challenge of Polarization and Groupishness, Martin Carcasson
- River Administration: Colorado Division of Water Resources — Michael Hein, Jean Lever, and Mark Simpson
- Water Resources Review Committee
- Colorado Division of Water Resources
November Session | Domestic Water
- November Session Agenda
- November Session Homework
- Municipal Provider History, Service Commitments, and Business of Water — Sean Chambers
- Fort Collins Water Resources Management — Carol Webb
- Loveland’s Water Supply Past, Present and Future — Larry Howard
- Windsor’s Water Story — John Thornhill
- Tri-districts and Special Districts — Richard Raines
- East Larimer County Water District — Loren Maxey
- Division 1 Straight Line Diagrams
December Session | Agricultural Water
- December Session Agenda
- December Session Homework
- A Ditch in Time: Denver and Western Water Issues by Patty Limerick (Book report by Jane Lopez)
- Consolidated Home Supply Ditch Map — David Schultz
- Consolidated Home Supply Ditch Systems Map — David Schultz
- North Poudre Irrigation Company — Tad Moen
- Water Supply and Storage Company — Dennis Harmon
- City of Thornton Water Supply and Storage Company — Ed Lanyon
- HB16-1228: Agriculture Protection Water Right Transfer Mechanism
January Session | C-BT Project and Proposed Storage Projects
- January Session Agenda
- January Session Homework
- Northern Water and the Colorado-Big Thompson Water Project — Brian Werner
- U.S. Army COE Permitting — Kiel Downing
- Halligan Reservoir Expansion — Eileen Dornfest
- Seaman Reservoir Expansion — Adam Jokerst
- Windy Gap Firming Project — Joe Donnelly
- Northern Integrated Supply Project — Brian Werner
- Poudre River Signage Handout — Myles Baker
February Session | Water for the Environment
- February Session Agenda
- February Session Homework
- The Health of the Upper Poudre River Watershed — Jen Kovecses
- City of Greeley Park Projects that Improve the Poudre — Sarah Boyd
- Poudre River Report Card — Jen Shanahan
- Big Thompson Watershed Coalition Restoration Projects — Shayna Jones
- Flushing Flows Strategy for the Poudre — Ken Kehmeier
- A Novel Approach for Augmentation to Improve Wetlands Habitat — Eric Potyondy
- Colorado Instream Flow Program — Linda Bassi
March Session | Water for Recreation and Business
April Session | Water and Economic Growth
- April Session Agenda
- April Session Homework
- An Overview of Northern Colorado Economic Health/Economic Development Strategy – David May
- Finding Water for a New Development – Max Moss
- Water Conservation Through Land Use Planning – Anne Castle
- Water Research Foundation: Integrating Land Use and Water Resources
- Best Practices for Implementing Water Conservation and Demand Management Through Land Use Planning Efforts
- Water Regionalization – Roy Otto
- Northern Colorado Municipal Water Providers
- Regional Water Issues and Municipal Stakeholder Engagement Matrix
May Session | Ag/Urban Historical Changes and Future Outlook
- May Session Agenda
- Alternative Water Transfers in Colorado: A Review of Alternative Transfer Mechanisms for Front Range Municipalities
- Alternative Transfer Mechanisms for Front Range Municipalities – Brett Bovee
- New Cache la Poudre Irrigating Company’s Pilot Water Leasing Program – Dan Brown
Class Resources
2017-2018 Program
Resources for Class Members
Class Sessions
September Session | Class Overview
- September Session Agenda
- September Session Homework
- Colorado Division of Water – Dave Nettles
- Poudre River–District 3 – Mark Simpson
- Thompson River–District 4 – Jean Lever
October Session | Municipal Water Providers and Water Law Basics
- October Session Agenda
- October Session Homework
- Peter Binney
- Prairie Waters City of Aurora Project
- Fort Collins Construction Costs Could Rise with Revised Water Fees – Kevin Duggan
- Citizen’s Guide to Colorado Water Law (4th ed) – Water Education Colorado
- Colorado Water Law – Andrew Jones
- Fort Collins Water Resources Management – Carol Webb
- City of Greeley Water and Sewer
- Loveland’s Water Supply Past, Present and Future – Larry Howard
- Windsor Water
November Session | Agricultural Water
December Session | C-BT and Windy Gap Projects
- December Session Agenda
- December Session Homework
- Windy Gap Puts Collaboration on Water to the Test – Luke Runyon
- Colorado-Big Thompson Brochure – Northern Water
- Windy Gap Firming Project and Environment Brochure – Northern Water
- Windy Gap Firming Project Fact Sheet – Northern Water
- History and Evolution of the Colorado-Big Thompson and Windy Gap Projects – Brian Werner
- ELCO, Fort Collins-Loveland and North Weld
- Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell & the Second Opening of the West by Wallace Stegner (Book report by Carol Cochran)
- The Water Problem: Climate Change and Water Policy in the United States by Pat Mulroy (Book report by Troy Jones)
- Troy Jones Book Report Slides
January Session | Water for the Environment
- January Session Agenda
- January Session Homework
- Virtual Rivers by Ellen E. Wohl (Book report by Kristin Stephens)
- Dam Nation by Stephen Grace (Book report by Bob Hewson)
- The Last Water Hole In The West by Daniel Tyler (Book report by Matt Zoccali)
- US 34 Big Thompson Canyon River Project Design and Construction – Big Thompson Watershed Coalition
- Front Range Watershed Coalitions – Big Thompson Watershed Coalition
- Coalition for the Upper South Platte
- South Platte Basin Roundtable
- State of the Poudre: A River Health Assessment and Report Card
- Forests: Guardians of our Water Supply – Jen Kovecses
- Watershed Services – Jen Shanahan
- The Poudre Runs Through It Study/Action Work Group – John Bartholow
- Restoring Health to the Riparian Ecosystem – Karen Scopel
- Fish, Fire, Flood, Flows – Ken Kehmeier
- Big Thompson Watershed Coalition – Shayna Jones
February Session | Water for Recreation and Business
- February Session Agenda
- February Session Homework
- Water Use and Management – Anadarko
- Good Water = Good Beer – BreWater
- Poudre River Solutions – Ducks Unlimited
- Poudre River Whitewater Park – Matt Day
- Recreation on the Cache La Poudre – Mountain Whitewater
- Poudre River Recreation – Wade Willis
- WD Farr: Cowboy in the Boardroom by Daniel Tyler (Book report by Kevin Jones)
- WD Farr: Cowboy in the Boardroom by Daniel Tyler (Book report by Roy Otto)
March Session | Water and Economic Growth
- March Session Agenda
- March Session Homework
- Integrating Water & Land Use – Drew Beckwith
- Big Thompson River Corridor Master Plan – City of Loveland
- 2534 Development: Water Planning – Todd Williams and Ryan Schaefer
- Turning on Water with a Shovel: The Career of Elwood Mead by James Kluger (Book report by Gage Osthoff)
- Where the Water Goes: Life and Death Along the Colorado River by David Owen (Book report by Greg Bielawski)
- Water is for Fighting Over and Other Myths about Water In the West by John Fleck (Book report by Shayna Jones)
- Rivers of Empire by Daniel Worster (Book report by Steven Olson)
April Session | Ag/Urban Historical Changes and our Future Outlook
- April Session Agenda
- April Session Homework
- A Land Made from Water: Appropriation and Evolution of Colorado’s Landscape, Ditches and Water Institutions by Robert Crifasi (Book report by Dick Jefferies)
- Water is for Fighting Over and Other Myths about Water in the West by John Fleck (Book report by Erik Barstow)
- The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water by Charles Fishman (Book report by Glenn Ledall)
- Charles A. Lory and the Challenges of Colorado’s Semi-Arid Frontier by James E. Hansen (Book report by Ralph Trenary)
- The Water Problem: Climate Change and Water Policy in the US (Book report by Ryan Schaefer)
- City of Fort Collins Utilities: Water Supply History and Future
- City of Loveland Water – Ryan Van Pelt
- Benefits Provided by the Irrigated Agricultural Landscape – George Wallace
- Greeley Acquisition of Agricultural Water for Urban Use and Plans for the Future – Harold Evans
- Water Literate Leaders Big Thompson Field Trip
May Session | Proposed Storage Projects
- May Session Agenda
- May Session Homework
- WLL Graduation Event Flyer
- Written in Water: The Life of Benjamin Harrison Eaton by Jane E. and Lee G. Norris (Book report by Kristie Melendez)
- Colossus: Hoover Dam and the Making of the American Century by Michael Hiltzik (Book report)
- Silver Fox of the Rockies: Delphus E. Carpenter and Western Water Compacts by Daniel Tyler (Book report by Tony Miller)
- The Colorado Doctrine–Water Rights, Corporations and Distributive Justice on the American Frontier by David Schorr (Book report by Ty Notestine)
- Halligan Water Supply Project – City of Fort Collins
- Northern Integrated Supply Project – Brian Werner
- Milton Seaman Water Supply Project
- Windy Gap Firming Project – Northern Water
Class Resources
