That’s a wrap! A huge thank you to all our partners, presenters, and all the folks who showed up to listen and learn about western water this spring.
The Colorado River District’s State of the River meetings are a spring tradition in Western Colorado. Learn about river forecasts, local water projects, and western water issues. All events are free to the public and include a light dinner. Registration is required.
Hosted by the Colorado River District and local partnership organizations across our fifteen-county District, the State of the River event series is a spring tradition in Western Colorado. Originally designed to give residents a peek at upcoming water forecasts, these casual, public-information events include a look at the upcoming hydrology, a summary of major western water issues, and a spotlight on projects and priorities of each local community.
Spring 2024 State of the River Meetings
Lower Gunnison River – March 18th, Montrose County Event Center, Montrose -COMPLETE
Thank you to all who attended, and our partner organization the Gunnison Basin Roundtable
Presentations
INTEGRATED WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN & NORTH FORK FARMER’S DITCH DIVERSION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
Speaker: Jake Hartter – West Slope Conservation Center
Uncompahgre River – March 19th, 4H Ridgway Community Center, Ridgway – COMPLETE
Thank you to all who attended, and especially our partner organization, Ouray County Water Users Association
Presentations
White River – March 26, Fairfield Center, Meeker – COMPLETE
Partnering with Rio Blanco Conservancy District
Presentations
WATER YEAR 2024 SO FAR Speaker: Erin Light, Division 6 Engineer, Department of Natural Resources
WHITE RIVER WATER SUPPLY STUDY – RETURN FLOWS
Speaker: Callie Scritchfield, Executive Director, White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts
Speaker: Liz Chandler, White River Integrated Water Initiative Watershed Coordinator
WHITE RIVER RIPARIAN RESTORATION PROJECT Speaker: Rusty Lloyd, Executive Director, RiversEdge West
Lower Yampa River – April 2, Moffat County Fairgrounds – COMPLETE
Partnering with Community Ag. Alliance
Presentations
WATER YEAR 2024 SO FAR Speaker: Erin Light, Division 6 Engineer, Department of Natural Resources
COLORADO RIVER DISTRICT – WORKING FOR THE FUTURE OF WEST SLOPE WATER Melissa Wills, CFP Program Manager, Colorado River District
Colorado Agricultural Alliance – Norvell Ditch and Related Projects Speakers: Patrick Stanko, Ag Resource Coordinator, Community Agriculture Alliance
Little Snake River Diversion Project
Speaker: Jonathan Bowler, Watermaster, Savery Little Snake River Water Conservancy District
Upper Yampa River – April 3, Steamboat Springs Community Center – COMPLETE
Partnering with Community Ag. Alliance
Presentations
WATER YEAR 2024 SO FAR Speaker: Erin Light, Division 6 Engineer, Department of Natural Resources
COLORADO RIVER DISTRICT – WORKING FOR THE FUTURE OF WEST SLOPE WATER – Melissa Wills, CFP Program Manager, Colorado River District
Colorado Agricultural Alliance – AUTOMATION ON THE BEAR RIVER – Patrick Stanko, Ag Resource Coordinator, Community Agriculture Alliance
City of Steamboat Springs – EFFORTS ON THE YAMPA RIVER – Julie Baxter, Water Resources Manager, City of Steamboat Springs
UPPER YAMPA WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT PROJECTS -Holly Kirkpatrick, Public Information and External Affairs Manager, UYWCD
Colorado River – April 1, Meyer Ballroom, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction – COMPLETE
Partnering with the CMU Water Center
Presentations
HYDROLOGY & WATER OUTLOOK 2024
Speaker: Brendon Langenhuizen, Director of Technical Advocacy, Colorado River District
COLORADO RIVER DISTRICT – WORKING FOR THE FUTURE OF WEST SLOPE WATER
Speaker: Andy Mueller, General Manager for the Colorado River District
GRAND VALLEY WATER USERS ASSOCIATION UPDATE Speaker: Tina Bergonzini, General Manager,
Grand Valley Water Users Association
Middle Colorado River – May 7, Ute Theater, Rifle – COMPLETE
Thank you to our partner organization, Middle Colorado Watershed Council
Presentations
OUTLOOK WATER YEAR 2024
Speaker: Caleb Foy, Lead Assistant Division Engineer, Division 5, Colorado Division of Water Resources
COLORADO RIVER DISTRICT – WORKING FOR THE FUTURE OF WEST SLOPE WATER
Speaker: Lindsay DeFrates, Deputy Director of Public Relations, Colorado River District
Water for Agriculture and the Environment-Diversion Upgrades in the Middle Colorado MCWC/MCAC Speaker: Paula Stepp, Executive Director, Middle Colorado Watershed Council
Scott Schreiber, Wright Water Engineers
Silt Water Conservancy District – A System within Systems to Support the Bigger Picture Speaker: Nathan Bell, Bell Consulting
Upper Colorado River – May 9, Sun Outdoors, Granby
Partnering with Grand County
Presentations
HYDROLOGY & WATER OUTLOOK 2024 Speaker: Becky Bolinger, Assistant State Climatologist
COLORADO RIVER DISTRICT – WORKING FOR THE FUTURE OF WEST SLOPE WATER
Speaker: Lindsay DeFrates, Deputy Director of Public Relations, Colorado River District
OPERATIONS UPDATE – Speaker: Sam Calahan, Water Resources Data Specialist, Colorado River District
GCWIN PROGRAM UPDATE Kyle Masterson, Executive Director, Grand County Water Information Network
STATE OF THE FISHERIES – Jon Ewert, Aquatic Biologist, Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Blue River – May 23, Silverthorne Pavilion, Silverthorne – COMPLETE
Thank you to all who attended, and our partner organization, the Blue River Watershed Group.
Presentations
HYDROLOGY & WATER OUTLOOK 2024 Speaker: Russ Schumacher, Director, Colorado Climate Center and Colorado State Climatologist
COLORADO RIVER DISTRICT – WORKING FOR THE FUTURE OF WEST SLOPE WATER
Speaker: Lindsay DeFrates, Deputy Director of Public Relations, Colorado River District
CONTINENTAL HOOSIER SYSTEM UPDATES – Speaker: Maria Pastore, Senior Project Manager, Colorado Springs Utilities
OPERATIONS UPDATE: DILLON – Nathan Elder, Manager of Water Resources, Denver Water
GREEN MOUNTAIN RESERVOIR CONNECTIONS Victor Lee, Civil Engineer, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
BLUE RIVER’S IWMP & HABITAT RESTORATION CLEAN UP PLAN– Vanessa Logsden, Executive Director, Blue River Watershed Group
Eagle River – May 29, Colorado Mountain College, Edwards – COMPLETE
Thank you to our partner organization, Eagle River Water and Sanitation District
Presentations
COLORADO RIVER DISTRICT – WORKING FOR THE FUTURE OF WEST SLOPE WATER
Speaker: Lindsay DeFrates, Deputy Director of Public Relations, Colorado River District