Colorado Water Center

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Fort Collins, CO
Colorado Water Center

Research, education, & engagement to address today’s most pressing water issues in Colorado & beyond.

CoWC is one of 54 Water Resources Research Institutes created by the Water Resources Act of 1964, which collectively form the National Institutes for Water Resources. At Colorado State University, CoWC brings together a network of over 200 faculty members from various departments across campus and seeks to engage students and faculty in interdisciplinary research and to promote current water-relat

ed research taking place at CSU. A main focus area of CoWC is to inform interested faculty, students, and community members of water-related opportunities on the CSU campus and throughout the state of Colorado. We announce events, jobs and internships, research funding, and volunteer opportunities on our website and in our e-newsletter, The Current; produce the Colorado Water newsletter, host conferences, workshops, and seminars to highlight innovative water research and activities of CSU faculty and students; provide research grants and fellowship opportunities; and offer the Sustainable Water Interdisciplinary Minor (SWIM) for all undergraduates. Stay up to date with all things water in Colorado by following us on Instagram and Twitter

This Facebook account is officially recognized by Colorado State University; however, the views and opinions expressed on this page are not necessarily those of the University. CSU retains discretion to allow or disallow comments and/or posts on this page. For more information about CSU’s Social Media Policy, visit http://www.socialmedia.colostate.edu and for more information about Colorado State University, visit http://www.colostate.edu.

09/10/2026

continues next Monday! Join us for the next Colorado River-themed Interdisciplinary Water Resources Seminar lecture from 4-5:00 p.m. featuring CoWC Senior Water Policy Scholar Jennifer Gimbel.

Jennifer's presentation will dive into the complex law and policy of past and future Colorado River management. As she recently told Bloomberg News, much as changed since the Compact's signing in 1922.

"We have no safety net now," Gimbel said. "When all those other agreements were signed, there was still decent amounts of water in the reservoir." Watch the full segment on Bloomberg News here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjrW88M58jA

Then join us on Monday to engage with Jennifer in the West's most urgent water challenge. All interested faculty, non-credit students, and off-campus guests are welcome to attend in-person in Natural Resources Building Room 109, or via Zoom: https://watercenter.colostate.edu/take-a-class/interdisciplinary-water-resources-seminar/

09/02/2026

continues Monday, September 14! Join us for the next Colorado River-themed Interdisciplinary Water Resources Seminar lecture from 4-5:00 p.m. featuring CoWC Senior Water Policy Scholar Jennifer Gimbel.

Jennifer's presentation will dive into the complex maze of federal and state laws, regulations, criteria, policies, and international treaty obligations that have dictated past Colorado River management and will examine future drivers of river management. Gimbel currently teaches Colorado State University graduate and undergraduate students interested in water policy issues and develops published articles on the Colorado River and water issues facing Colorado.

She previously served as the principal deputy assistant secretary for water and science in the Department of the Interior and as deputy commissioner for external and intergovernmental affairs for the Bureau of Reclamation. From 2008 to 2013, Gimbel served as director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board and as the governor’s representative on Colorado River issues.

Join us to engage in the West's most urgent water challenge. All interested faculty, non-credit students, and off-campus guests are welcome to attend in-person in Natural Resources Building Room 109, or via Zoom - virtual registration is available via the GRAD 592 webpage: https://watercenter.colostate.edu/take-a-class/interdisciplinary-water-resources-seminar/

08/31/2026

- Meet Colorado Water Center Associate Director Bethany Howell!

Born in Hugo, Colorado, Bethany grew up seventh-generation on her family's ranch in Texas, where she participated in 4-H and gained her love of water while playing in their creek with her sisters. After returning to Colorado in 2013, she lived and worked in the San Luis Valley for over ten years.

Before joining CoWC, Bethany served as the Director of Strategic Outreach & Engagement for the Colorado Department of Agriculture, supporting the Commissioner of Agriculture to connect agricultural producers and partners. She also served as the Executive Director of the Rio Grande Watershed Conservation Initiative and led community education for a valley-wide nonprofit addressing homelessness and food insecurity.

Bethany holds bachelor and master's degrees in English from Hardin-Simmons University and is a graduate of the 2020 Water Education Colorado Water Leaders program. These days, she loves nothing more than floating down a Colorado river with her husband and two children, observing wildlife, livestock, and riparian ecosystems.

Learn more the Colorado Water Center's team, programs, and opportunities to engage via our website!

08/27/2026

Calling all future water workforce members and leaders at ! There's only one day left to apply to join the 2026-2027 Colorado Water Fellows Program cohort!

A sustainable water future here in the west will require interdisciplinary education and collaboration, and Colorado Water Fellows experience this first-hand through program perks like water conferences, field trips, and monthly meetings. Each convening introduces members to critical water topics while emphasizing a holistic interdisciplinary understanding of water-related issues.

Fellows also receive a $1,000 stipend to participate and connections to water-related internships and job opportunities. Remember, every major is a water major! Rising sophomores and above are encouraged to apply.

Apply by August 28th to join the 2026-27 cohort!

Apply to the Colorado Water Fellows at this link:https://watercenter.colostate.edu/water-education-and-workforce-development/colorado-water-fellows/

08/26/2026

is back along with ! Whether it's your first time on campus or you're returning with new energy, the Colorado Water Center offers water education and engagement opportunities for all learners, including our annual Interdisciplinary Water Resources Seminar! Join us for lectures on Mondays from 4-5:00 p.m. on the theme, 'The Colorado River - Defining An Uncertain Future,' with water experts from CSU and across the state.

This Monday, GRAD 592 kicks off with course instructor and CoWC Director Karen Schlatter who will provide an introduction to the Colorado River Basin as a complex hydrologic, legal, and social system facing increasing water challenges. Attendees will gain an overview of the basin's geography, institutions, and the key issues shaping its future, including drought and climate change.

CSU students can still register via RAMweb! All interested faculty, non-credit students, and community members are welcome to attend lectures in-person or virtually via Zoom livestreaming (register via the CoWC website).

🗓️ Mondays from 4-5:00 p.m., Fall 2026 Semester
📍Natural Resources Building, Room 109 (virtual option available)

Learn more about this year's topics and speakers and register via our website: https://watercenter.colostate.edu/take-a-class/interdisciplinary-water-resources-seminar/

08/21/2026

and Congratulations to Daniel Dominguez, Colorado State University doctoral student and Colorado Water Fellows project coordinator, on receiving the 2026 Pat Tillman Scholarship, one of only 60 scholars named nationwide!

The Pat Tillman Foundation selects scholars based on their commitment to service, exceptional leadership, academic achievement, and potential to create lasting societal impact. A current doctoral student in watershed sciences, Dominguez's data-driven research is supporting the Colorado Water Center’s Water Quality and Access Program, addressing drinking water challenges for Colorado mobile home park residents.

Read about Daniel's accomplishment on CSU SOURCE via the following link: https://source.colostate.edu/csu-doctoral-student-named-2026-pat-tillman-scholar/

08/13/2026

students, are you interested in a water-related career? Want to make an impact in your community or gain a deeper understanding of water in our society? Apply to be part of the 2026-2027 CSU Colorado Water Fellows cohort!

This academic year-long program prepares the next generation of water leaders through professional development, mentorship, networking, and hands-on learning. From attending water conferences, field trips, and monthly meetings, every part of the program brings together a holistic, interdisciplinary understanding of water-related issues like water law, Tribal perspectives, water quality and access, and more - all while building professional connections and strengthening collaboration.

Learn more and apply by August 28, 2026 via the Colorado Water Center website: https://watercenter.colostate.edu/water-education-and-workforce-development/colorado-water-fellows/

08/11/2026

- we view it as a critical part of our work at the Colorado Water Center to better understand the water issues facing Colorado communities here and now. That's why on July 28, Colorado Water Center Director Karen Schlatter traveled to the to connect with folks in Colorado's unique high-alpine valley with an economy driven largely by agriculture, from livestock production to irrigated crops like potatoes and barley.

Hosted by CSU Extension 's Larry Brown, the San Luis Extension Area Director, Karen met with Rio Grande Water Conservation District board members and visited Brendon Rockey's seed potato farm to learn about soil health and pollinators.

Other highlights included visits to Mitchell Family Farms, where Tyler Mitchell is integrating winter rye rotations to advance water conservation and improve soil health. Karen also connected with local CSU Extension and 4-H staff, toured experimental field plots at Colorado State University College of Agricultural Sciences SLV Research Center, and met with Paul Formisano, director of the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center at Adams State University

Thank you to everyone who welcomed Karen and dedicated their time to connecting the Colorado Water Center to the San Luis Valley. We cannot wait for our next trip back!

08/10/2026

🚨 : Water Education Student Coordinator applications close tomorrow! 🚨

The Colorado Water Center is seeking a Water Education Student Coordinator. The position supports the planning and implementation of water education and workforce initiatives, including Water Literate Leaders, Colorado Project WET, and the Water Workforce Career Fair.

Responsibilities include:
💧Maintaining program processes and general administrative tasks
💧Supporting the development of water education resources and procedures
💧Assisting with advisory committees, stakeholder communications, events, and outreach

🗓️ Applications are due August 11, 2026!

Read the full job description and apply today at this link: https://wd12.myworkday.com/csusystem/d/inst/15$392530/9925$6278.htmld

08/07/2026

Meet Perry Cabot, Extension Professor of Irrigation and Water Resources with the Colorado Water Center!

Based at the Western Colorado Research Center, Cabot's agricultural water management work includes innovative irrigation technologies and cropping systems research, investigating how low-water forage crops like sainfoin can advance drought-tolerant practices across Colorado's agricultural industry. His research also extends to potential application of 3D-printing to modernize historical irrigation technology like the Parshall flume - developed a century ago at CSU.

Last May, Cabot received the (Colorado State University College of Agricultural Sciences) CAS Lincoln Laureate Award, an honor given to those who demonstrate exceptional balance and joint excellence across teaching and service in the spirit of CSU's land-grant mission.

"As an arm of the Office of Engagement and Extension, our job [at the Colorado Water Center] is to extend research capabilities and knowledge to the boundaries of our state," Cabot said. "I was thrilled to be nominated and to receive the award, but I think it's a credit to the university that they recognize this as a critical part of our jobs...as a celebrated part of our jobs."

An alumni of the CSU Civil and Environmental Engineering program, Cabot later received his Ph.D. in agricultural engineering and land resources from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Learn more about Perry, the impact of his agricultural water research, and the rest of the Colorado Water Center's programs on our website: https://watercenter.colostate.edu/

Address

Fort Collins, CO

Telephone

(970) 491-2695

Website

http://linktr.ee/ColoradoWaterCenter

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