This summer, the Colorado River District Board adopted a new five-year strategic plan. Formally named the Colorado River Water Conservation District, the Glenwood Springs-based agency manages and protects water resources on the Western Slope, encompassing tributaries and water use in 15 counties. The district was formed nearly 90 years ago, in 1937, in response to water diversions to the Front Range.
The river district’s board and staff worked with consultants for a year developing the plan that was approved in July. The team used surveys and interviewed constituents to collect public input, in addition to ideating during retreats and workgroup sessions.
“[The plan] charts a strong course for the next five years,” said Board President Marc Catlin. “It positions the river district to act as a leader, respond quickly to change and deliver real, lasting benefits to West Slope communities.”
Goals and actionable steps outline the district’s plans for addressing Western Colorado’s water needs, and at a time when the regional climate trends hotter and drier. Population centers and agricultural areas across the Western Slope rely on water resources, and the district aims to establish adjustable metrics to ensure accessibility into the future.
Each of the strategic plan’s focus areas include both broader aims and specific goals to further water protections. Actionable items under the “Community Protection” focus include finalizing the purchase and sale agreement for the Shoshone water right as well as identifying unifying projects within the Colorado, Gunnison, White and Yampa River basins, intended to secure the long-term vitality of the communities in those basins.
The “Trusted Resource” focus area aims to increase outreach and expand research and credibility. Goals within this category include funding water-related data collection, modeling, decision-support services and forecasting tools in addition to producing education and outreach series, such as its State of the River series and Annual Water Seminar.
The third focus area of the strategic plan aims to establish the Colorado River District as a leader in conversations about the Colorado River and its tributaries. Goals within this category include maintaining and increasing strong relationships with elected officials on the local, state and federal level and continuing to develop relationships with mission-aligned NGOs working on regional or Colorado-specific issues. The organization also aims to continue advising the state in “Big River” negotiations and advocating in ways that prevent or mitigate negative impacts on Western Slope communities.
“The strategic plan is a collaborative, working strategy that affirms our commitment to our constituents and communities,” said Chief of Strategy Amy Moyer. “ Implementation is already underway, and we’re building internal structures to ensure that the initiatives are aligned with the realities of Colorado’s water future.”
The Colorado River District is developing internal working groups for all three focus areas to support implementation. It will track progress with annual reports to its board of directors each summer and quarterly updates to staff. Community members interested in reading the full strategic plan can find it at www.coloradoriverdistrict.org/strategic-plan
Water Seminar
The upcoming Annual Water Seminar occurs next Friday, Oct. 3 in Grand Junction. Colorado Mesa University will host the event, themed “Across Divides,” from 8:30am to 3:30pm, followed by happy hour. Throughout the day, speakers will present on topics including current hydrology, interstate negotiations, water policy, agricultural innovation and funding strategies. This year’s seminar aims to bring together conflicting perspectives and challenge stakeholders to question assumptions and work toward mutual understandings.