COLORADO WATER CONGRESS. Conference Program PRISMS OF PERCEPTION OUR IMAGE, OUR VISION. August 19-21, 2015 Vail Cascade

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "COLORADO WATER CONGRESS. Conference Program PRISMS OF PERCEPTION OUR IMAGE, OUR VISION. August 19-21, 2015 Vail Cascade"

Annabella Watts
6 years ago
Views:

1 COLORADO WATER CONGRESS 2015 SUMMER CONFERENCE & MEMBERSHIP MEETING PRISMS OF PERCEPTION OUR IMAGE, OUR VISION Conference Program August 19-21, 2015 Vail Cascade

2 SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2015 CONFERENCE SPONSORS! AECOM Berg Hill Greenleaf & Ruscitti LLP Brown and Caldwell Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. Central Colorado Water Conservancy District City of Greeley Colorado Oil and Gas Association Colorado Stormwater Council Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority ERO Resources GEI Consultants HDR Engineering, Inc. Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District Martin and Wood Water Consultants, Inc. Molson Coors Brewing Company Northern Water Olsson Associates Inc. Rio Grande Water Conservation District San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District SGM, Inc. Southwestern Water Conservation District Tri-County Water Conservancy District United Water & Sanitation District Ute Water Conservancy District Wilson Water Group

3 2015 COLORADO WATER CONGRESS SUMMER CONFERENCE PRISMS OF PERCEPTION OUR IMAGE, OUR VISION Conference Welcome Jim Broderick, Colorado Water Congress President Christine Arbogast, Kogovsek and Associates Wednesday, August 19 Conference Opening Luncheon Sponsored by Ute Water Conservancy District 12:30 1:20 pm Program starts at 12:50 pm Managing Colorado s Water Resources - Together Senator Michael Bennet Join our senior Colorado Senator Michael Bennet as he leads a discussion on water and watershed issues. Short Break 1:20 1:35 pm Opening General Session I Federal Affairs 1:35 2:30 pm Moderator: Christine Arbogast, Kogovsek and Associates Andy Colosimo, Chair CWC Federal Affairs Committee / Colorado Springs Utilities Chris Treese, Vice Chair CWC Federal Affairs Committee / Colorado River District Mark Pifher, Colorado Springs Utilities Ian Lyle, National Water Resources Association Projecting Forward Historic Water Congress Priorities in Today s Light For many years, conflicts over proposed federal actions impacting Colorado water rights dominated the Water Congress agenda. How are proposed Wild and Scenic river designations, Bypass Flows requirements on federal lands, and Wilderness water rights playing out today? Matters of Perception Expectations for U.S. Congressional and Federal Agency Action in 2015 As we look ahead to the remainder of the year, what progress is likely for the U.S. Congress and federal agencies on key priorities for the water community including Waters of the U.S., drought legislation, and forest health? 1

4 Break 2:30 3:00 pm General Session II Reflections of the Water Community 3:00 5:00 pm Conference note. For the following session, we will experiment with an interactive format. The ballroom will be divided into sections and the speakers will move among the sections. (A little like speed dating.) The purpose of the smaller groups is to provide a better opportunity for a dialogue with the speakers. Notes will be taken from the sessions and summarized the following Thursday morning. Forest Session Working collaboratively to enhance forest and watershed health Speaker: Maribeth Gustafson, Deputy Regional Forester, U.S. Forest Service Moderator: Cherie Hamilton, U.S. Forest Service Media Session What does the water community need to get right as the Colorado Water Plan is adopted? Speaker: Chris Woodka, Pueblo Chieftain Moderator: Floyd Ciruli, Ciruli and Associates Commercial Session Taking the long view of the role water plays in the success of resort towns Speaker: Ludwig Kurz, Former Mayor Vail Moderator: Linn Brooks, Eagle River Water and Sanitation District, Colorado Water Congress Board Urban Session What we can do to implement innovative programs that integrate land use and water Speaker: Eric Hecox, Executive Director, South Metro Water Supply Authority Moderator: Peter Binney, Merrick and Company Welcoming Reception Sponsored by AECOM and Molson Coors 5:00 7:00 pm 2

5 Thursday, August 20 Water for Breakfast Sponsored By Brown and Caldwell 7:00 8:30 am Program starts at 7:45 am Moderator: Mary Gearhart, Brown and Caldwell Protecting Agriculture Cindy Lair, Colorado Department of Agriculture Joe Kelpinski, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Urban Development The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program is a legislated certainty program designed to help Michigan s farmers address environmental concerns on their farms and protect the waters of the state of Michigan. This innovative, voluntary, program uses education, risk assessments and conservation practice implementation, along with third party verification to ensure conformance with program standards. The program consists of three systems, Livestock, Farmstead, and Cropping which allows a comprehensive evaluation of farms of all sizes, types, and commodities. Interim Water Resources Review Committee Report Senator Ellen Roberts, President Pro Tem Colorado Senate; Chair, Water Resources Review Committee Representative Ed Vigil, Chair, House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee Break 8:30 9:00 am General Session III Sketches of Our Reflections Learning from the Past, Focus on the Future 9:00 am Moderator: Linn Brooks, Eagle River Water and Sanitation District Don Ament, Former Commissioner Colorado Department of Agriculture Peter Binney, Merrick and Company Floyd Ciruli, Ciruli and Associates What did we learn from Wednesday s dialogue? As we consider the future, is the water community s public image what we want it to be? Do we reflect the broad spectrum of urban and rural concerns? 3

6 Every Conversation about Water Should Start with Conservation 9:30 am Moderator: Nicole Seltzer, Colorado Foundation for Water Education Water and Growth Dialogue Matthew Mulica, Keystone Policy Center Marc Waage, Denver Water The Keystone Center s Colorado Water and Growth Project is modeling land use patterns for new development to identify development patterns and possible incentives in the metro Denver area that will save water and still deliver housing products that consumers find attractive. This is leading edge effort to identify and quantify potential savings at the local level through a collaborative effort of water providers, land use planners, developers, public official and other key stakeholders. Being Part of the Solution Quantification of Landscape Water Conservation Best Management Practices (BMPs) Brenda O'Brien, GreenCO Eight of the thirteen water conservation action items in the Colorado Water Plan relate to outdoor water use. While most agree that landscape water conservation opportunities are plentiful, the magnitude of water conservation achievable through best practices is not currently quantified in a manner that is consistently transferrable or readily integrated into local watering guidelines, or rules and regulations. Colorado s green industry (GreenCO) is working to change this. Next up will be a Quantification of Landscape Water Conservation BMPs report that will help to apply measurements on expected water savings when BMPs are properly implemented. GreenCO is committed to helping to reduce water consumption and protect water quality while designing, installing and maintaining healthy, beautiful landscapes. Perspectives of the Housing Community Scott Smith, Colorado Association of Home Builders From Waters of the U.S. to water conservation, home builders have a keen interest in water policy and legislation. Their energies focus on the costs and burdens new requirements may place on their membership s ability to produce attainable housing. Consider the many water saving methods that are already employed in the production of housing, plus other challenges and concerns you may not have considered from the Housing Industry s perspective, as they work in Colorado s diverse housing market, travelling some of the same roads as us, to ensure the voice of their members is heard. Break 10:30 10:50 am 4

7 General Session IV Drought and Water Management on the Colorado River 10:50 11:45 am Moderator: Erin Wilson, Wilson Water Group James Eklund, Colorado Water Conservation Board Eric Kuhn, Colorado River Water Conservation District Marc Waage, Denver Water John McClow, Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District The miracle May of rainfall in the Southwest was a tremendous benefit to the Colorado River. What is the latest on contingency planning in the basin as we continue to grapple with a long term drought as well as the Lower Basin structural deficit overuse of water in the Lower Basin? Eric Kuhn will discuss the realities, myths and history of the structural deficit from the Upper Basin s perspective. The System Conservation Pilot Program is an $11 million program jointly funded by Denver Water, Southern Nevada Water Authority, Central Arizona Project, Metropolitan Water District, and Reclamation. Nearly $3M is expected to be spent in the Upper Colorado River Basin States to pay water users to reduce their consumptive use. The program is managed by the Upper Colorado River Commission and will help test the feasibility of short-term, voluntary, compensated methods for reducing demand to help keep Lake Powell above critical minimum water levels. How successful has the program been and what have we learned? The High Flow Experiment - a series of large-volume releases from Glen Canyon Dam designed to mimic aspects of pre-dam seasonal flooding was an attempt to determine if high flows could benefit physical and biological resources. John McClow, just back from a July raft trip through the Canyon, will share his photos and observations. Break 11:45 am 12:15 pm Thursday Luncheon Sponsored by Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority 12:15 1:30 pm Program starts at 12:45 pm Moderator: Chris Treese, Colorado River Water Conservation District Congressman Scott Tipton Congressman Scott Tipton will discuss perceptions in Washington, D.C. on water management in the West. POND Afternoon Activities 1:30 5:00 pm POND Reception Sponsored by Colorado Oil and Gas Association 5:00 7:00 pm 5

8 Friday, August 21 Friday CWC Membership Networking Breakfast A light continental breakfast for early risers. Sponsored By Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District 7:00 8:30 am Program starts at 8:00 am Perceptions of Our Members Presentation of the 2015 CWC Member Survey Results 8:00 am Moderator: Jim Broderick, Colorado Water Congress President Matt Herndon, Corona Insights The response rate from our July membership survey was very strong. Nearly half of our member organizations returned completed surveys. The news was quite good. Corona Insights has just completed a thorough analysis of the data and will present preliminary conclusions. The survey will provide baseline data that will serve as the foundation of our strategic plan. We will provide an introduction to the Water Congress strategic planning process that will begin in September. Break and Hotel Checkout 8:30 9:00 am Brunch Sponsored By City of Greeley 9:00 9:30 am General Session V Friday Morning Rapid-Fire Sessions Moderator: Sam Susuras, Colorado Water Congress Vice President Is Colorado Still a Battleground State in the Presidential and Senate Races? 9:30 am Floyd Ciruli, Ciruli and Associates What the latest polls on U.S. and Colorado 2016 election show. We will also conduct a poll of conference attendees prior to the event. 6

9 Rio Grande Cooperative Project Travis Smith, San Luis Valley Irrigation District Updates on Member Activities 10:00 am Collaborative management of diverse water rights between business partners in the Rio Grande Basin. Northern Integrated Water Supply Project Carl Brouwer, Northern Water The Northern Integrated Supply Project is a proposed water storage and distribution project that will supply 15 Norther Front Range water providers with 40,000 acre feet of new, reliable water supplies. In July, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held open houses and public hearings in Fort Collins and Greeley for the newly-released NISP Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement. How did it go? Net Zero Interest? Updating Water Organization Financial Policies Bill Nesbitt, Treasurer, Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District Many organizations updated their financial policies after the financial meltdown (now nearly 6 years ago). Is it time to create a work group to share experiences, learn from them, and consider a new course? Best Practices for Collaborative Water Decisions: Moving from Concept to Action Dan Birch, Colorado River Water Conservation District The need for collaboration around water in the West is more critical than ever. This is certainly true for Coloradans facing the challenge of crafting definitive actions to address issues laid out in the Colorado Water Plan. Leaders and participants in the water community can benefit immensely from learning and practicing best practices to design, facilitate and participate in meaningful collaboration and consensus-building. Animas River Spill Update Steve Fearn and Bruce Whitehead, Southwestern Water Conservation District Local community perceptions and current status of the impact of the Gold King Mine spill. Recent Trends and Perceptions of Colorado s Oil and Gas Industry 10:20 am Dan Haley, Colorado Oil and Gas Association Colorado oil and gas industry stands at an interesting juncture with commodity prices low and political winds constantly shifting. What do commodity prices portend for the near-term future? Like the water community, the oil and gas industry has work to do. What can we learn from each other as we go out into our communities, listen to our friends, and talk about the positive benefits of what we do? 7

10 Colorado s Agricultural Image The Silicon Valley of Ag 10:40 am Jocelyn Hittle, Director, Denver Operational Initiatives, Colorado State University Are we set to project a new image of Colorado as an important center of agricultural innovation? Several factors are driving the emergence of the Front Range as a booming growth center for agricultural corporations and hightech start-up companies. The National Western site is being reimagined as the National Western Center focusing on year-round activity, education, and collaboration. CSU, as one of the project partners, envisions educating on various issues surrounding water, including best practices in water conservation at the building and landscape levels, as well as the intersection between food systems and water in the West. General Session VI Our View of the Colorado Water Plan Policy Implications and Priorities 11:00 am Moderator: John Stulp, Special Policy Advisory to the Governor for Water Patti Wells, CWCB Board member representing City and County of Denver John McClow, CWCB Board member representing Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basins Travis Smith, CWCB Board member representing Rio Grande River Basin Our members as well as the media seem to have many opinions about the likely outcomes of the Colorado Water Plan once it is completed. As Water Congress members are preparing their comments on the final draft, we believe it would be helpful to better understand how Colorado Water Conservation Board Directors view the document and process. The Directors will discuss their perceptions of the policies contained in the Plan including the Conceptual Framework. What are their next steps as they consider comments and finalize the Plan? Will the numerous to do items in the Plan be prioritized? Concluding Remarks 12:00 pm Jim Broderick, Colorado Water Congress President Conference Adjourn Distribute Snack Bags for the Road Sponsored by Wilson Water Group 8

11 Conference Notes 9

THANK YOU 2015 SUMMER CONFERENCE EXHIBITORS! Colorado Special Districts Property & Liability Pool Colorado Water Conservation Board Custom Linings, Inc. Forsgren Associates, Inc.

12 THANK YOU 2015 SUMMER CONFERENCE EXHIBITORS! Colorado Special Districts Property & Liability Pool Colorado Water Conservation Board Custom Linings, Inc. Forsgren Associates, Inc. Hydro Resources Lower Arkansas Valley WCD Lynker Technologies Mays Construction Specialties, Inc. Ponderosa Advisors LLC/Water Sage Rubicon Water Special District Association of Colorado Tattered Cover Water Center at Colorado Mesa University Wells Fargo Business Bank 10

A District Council of the Urban Land Institute

A District Council of the Urban Land Institute A District Council of the Urban Land Institute Thank you to our sponsors! Corporate Sponsors: Supporter Sponsors: Friend Sponsor: Thank you to our Community