Colorado Water Center

"It's a little bit of a cascading effect, and everything is really intertwined. You see that more with drought - it's not as overt a crisis, but it is still a crisis..."

As Colorado enters summer, the state is facing some of its worst snowpack since records began in 1941. Facing extreme drought conditions, local communities are confronting how they will be impacted and how to prepare for hot, dry weather.

Bethany Howell, Colorado Water Center associate director, recently joined the Engage Jeffco Podcast to discuss the drought's impact on Colorado residents. Tune in to explore how residents across the state can prepare for this coming summer.

"Lawn irrigation is the number one user of municipal water," Bethany said. "So really thinking about your water usage outside even more than inside."

"The reality is we do live in a desert environment, and the West needs to reconsider how we think about our outside water use."

Listen to the podcast episode at this link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/colorados-drought-outlook-what-jeffco-residents-should/id1797374681?i=1000768868090

Congratulations to the 2025-2026 Cohort of Water Literate Leaders of Northern Colorado who celebrated their graduation yesterday!

This annual program seeks to engage local leaders from Northern Colorado in education, dialogue, and intentional decision-making practices to address water issues facing their communities. Over the course of the program, the leaders engaged in classes covering a range of topics relating to water, including history, economic growth, and agricultural and municipal water issues.

Thank you to NoCo Foundation for their continued partnership and support for the Water Literate Leaders program, enhancing water literacy and leadership in local communities for years to come.

For more information about the Water Literate Leaders program, visit this link: https://watercenter.colostate.edu/water-education-and-workforce-development/water-literate-leaders-of-northern-colorado/

We're excited to announce the launch of the Colorado Water Center Faculty Fellows Program, established to formally recognize State University faculty whose exemplary research, Extension, and education contributions advance the university's scholarship in water-related fields!

A call for 2026 Faculty Fellowship nominations is now open, with two awarded Faculty Fellowships beginning at the start of the fall semester. Fellowships are for two academic years and each Fellow receives a $2,500 annual salary supplement. Candidates may be nominated by another water-related Faculty member or may self-nominate.

Nominations will be accepted through June 26, 2026!

For more information and to send in a nomination, visit our website: https://watercenter.colostate.edu/water-scholarships-fellowships-grants/

🚨Applications for the John Fetcher Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District scholarship are due today!🚨

Hosted in partnership with the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District, the program awards two $5,000 scholarships to full-time undergraduate or graduate students in Colorado enrolled in water-related programs.

Qualifying recipients must be a full-time student enrolled in a water-related major at a public Colorado university. Preference will also be given to students from Northwest Colorado who desire a career related to water resources or have shown academic interest in the Yampa River or Colorado River Basin.

🚨 The deadline to apply is May 26, 2026. Learn more and apply via the Colorado Water Center's website here.

The South Platte Salinity Stakeholder Group met on April 27 and May 11, working together to develop a strategic roadmap. Formed in 2020 to foster regional dialogue and coordination across interest groups in the South Platte River Basin and facilitated by the Colorado Water Center at CSU, this cooperative effort has embarked on exciting new steps of this roadmap process thanks to funding support from a Colorado Water Conservation Board grant.

At recent meetings, Colorado Water Center staff facilitated visioning and strategic planning activities for over 25 participants representing municipal utilities, conservancy districts, state agencies, local government, agriculture, irrigators, engineering, and academic research.

Thank you to Denver Water for hosting the April 27 session and to Northern Water for hosting on May 11.

Learn more about the South Platte Salinity Stakeholder Group and their work at this link: https://watercenter.colostate.edu/water-quality-and-access/south-platte-salinity-stakeholders/

Applications for the John Fetcher Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District scholarship are due next week! Hosted in partnership with the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District, the program awards two $5,000 scholarships to full-time undergraduate or graduate students in Colorado enrolled in water-related programs.

Scholarship Qualifications include:
💧Be a full-time student enrolled in a water-related major at a public Colorado university
💧Preference is given to students from Northwest Colorado
💧 Preference is given to students who desire a career related to water resources and have shown academic interest in the Yampa River or Colorado River Basin

The Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District is dedicated to responsible waste management and protecting the Upper Yampa River through stewardship of the region's water, including strategic planning, innovative practices and future investments.

🚨 The deadline to apply is May 26, 2026. Learn more and apply via the Colorado Water Center's website here: https://watercenter.colostate.edu/water-scholarships-fellowships-grants/

Congrats to Tammy Rusch who recently received a Project WET 2026 Facilitator of the Year Award for her dedication and impact to K-12 water education in Colorado!

Tammy is the Education Director at the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District and has been hosting water festivals, well watch programs, and her impressive twice-a-year Confluence Institute for local teachers.

Nominated by CoWC's Colorado Project WET Coordinator Alex Collopy, Tammy has been a long-time champion of Project WET and has actively engaged in and supported the rebuilding of this statewide program over the last year.

"Tammy has spoken at all of my facilitator trainings," said Collopy, "sharing her expertise in educator workshops and serving as a resource for our growing network of facilitators. She has never hesitated to lend her support, and her efforts to build and mentor her team at CCWCD have laid the groundwork for a lasting legacy of education excellence."

"I've been involved with Project WET since 2012 and there's nothing better than watching students and teachers discover just how important and fun water education can be," said Rusch.

Stay tuned for a message from Tammy and check out Colorado Project WET resources, upcoming trainings, and events on the Colorado Water Center's website: https://col.st/fwhxl

TOMORROW! RSVP for tomorrow's webinar to learn more about the ongoing drought in Colorado, how it impacts you, and what to expect. Spanish interpretation will be provided during the online event.*

Join the Colorado Water Center and CSU Extension for a drought webinar on Thursday, May 14 from 6-7:30 pm and hear from expert panelists on the current Colorado drought situation, impacts to municipalities and agriculture, and available resources to help communities and individuals respond and adapt. We want to hear from you, so bring your questions and concerns for the Q&A discussion following the panel.

Webinar speakers include:
💧 Karen Schlatter, Director, Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University
💧Retta Bruegger, Extension Regional Specialist, Range Management, Western Region, Colorado State University
💧Nicole Didero, Extension Rural Regional Specialist, Western Region, Colorado State University
💧Greg Fisher, Manager of Demand Planning and Efficiency, Denver Water
💧Chad Reznicek, Extension State Behavioral Health Specialist, Colorado AgrAbility Project, Colorado State University
💧Jo Stanko, Routt County Rancher and Regional Assistant Commissioner, Colorado Department of Agriculture

Register today via our Zoom link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/9hYR2zj3SYuft5g8bkoYng #/registration

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*Únase al Colorado Water Center y a CSU Extension el jueves 14 de mayo, de 18:00 a 19:30, para asistir a un seminario web sobre la actual sequía en Colorado. Los expertos analizarán las repercusiones en las comunidades y la agricultura, y compartirán recursos para ayudar a la población a responder y adaptarse. También habrá un turno de preguntas y respuestas. Se ofrecerá servicio de interpretación al español.

Ponentes:
💧 Karen Schlatter, Director, Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University
💧Retta Bruegger, Extension Regional Specialist, Range Management, Western Region, Colorado State University
💧Nicole Didero, Extension Rural Regional Specialist, Western Region, Colorado State University
💧Greg Fisher, Manager of Demand Planning and Efficiency, Denver Water
💧Chad Reznicek, Extension State Behavioral Health Specialist, Colorado AgrAbility Project, Colorado State University
💧Jo Stanko, Routt County Rancher and Regional Assistant Commissioner, Colorado Department of Agriculture

Regístrate aquí: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/9hYR2zj3SYuft5g8bkoYng #/registration

🌊 By bringing people, knowledge, and ideas together, we are working to tackle Colorado's most pressing water challenges - but we need your help!

Today, the Colorado Water Center joins thousands of Rams who believe in the power of education, community, and Ram pride for this year's CSU Day of Giving.

Help us elevate impact across Colorado State University's water education, research, and engagement efforts and support the next generation of water leaders by giving to the campaign!

Learn more and donate here: https://give.colostate.edu/schools/ColoradoStateUniversity/rams-rise-2026/pages/engagement-and-extension/colorado-water-center

It's ! Fort Collins has award-winning drinking water, but did you know many families in Larimer County mobile home parks live with boil water notices, discolored water, persistent odors, and uncertainty about whether their tap water is safe? Let's help bring clean water to our neighbors to address immediate water quality and access needs!

With caring community members like you, we're strengthening local partnerships and building on the fundraising and water filter distribution efforts of the past year - working directly with residents to assess and provide for water quality needs. Here's how your donation to the 'Clean Water for Our Neighbors' campaign makes a difference:

💧 $10 — Funds one replacement filter
💧 $25 — Covers a new pitcher + one filter for a household
💧 $50 — Fully equips a household for ~one year of clean water
💧 $100 — Expands access to additional households in need

Donate today via Conservation Colorado - the campaign's fiscal sponsor - at this link: https://conservationcoef.org/donate-cwc-water-filters/

Want to help the campaign by spreading the word? Access the 'Clean Water for Our Neighbors' Toolkit here: https://tinyurl.com/mobilehomewatertoolkit