The mission of the Colorado Water Congress is to provide leadership on
key water resource issues and to be the principal voice of Colorado’s water community.
We believe the state of Colorado’s water shapes the future of the State.
We provide an open forum to share information, form positions, and advocate for a strong, effective,
and fair State water program. The non-profit Colorado Water Congress is dedicated to:
- Successful promotion of policy that supports high-quality, sustainable water supplies through
protection of water rights, conservation, planning, management and infrastructure investment.
- Thoughtful and equitable development and administration of water laws, regulations, and compacts.
- Fair representation of every watershed in Colorado and every type of beneficial water use.
- Clear communication of relevant, accurate, and timely information.
- Active engagement of our members through education, collaboration, and networking.
We make water work for Colorado.
Colorado water: The uses are diverse, the voices - and opinions - of its
stakeholders are many, and the supply isn't all that plentiful. Small wonder
that Colorado's long history is overflowing with colorful accounts of
heated, and sometimes violent, conflicts over water.
But since 1958, the Colorado Water Congress has been bringing water users
from throughout Colorado into a nonprofit organization dedicated to a
smooth-functioning, nonpartisan structure. Through open forums and
committees, and thoughtful action for both water education and sound
legislation, we provide the strong leadership Colorado needs to better
manage, protect, conserve and develop this most vital of natural resources.
And it's working. The proof is in the numbers: Since 1981, we've logged a
success rate of 85% on State water-related legislation that the Water
Congress has endorsed, and it's rare that a bill opposed by the CWC's
membership is ever signed by a Colorado Governor. Our voice carries all the
way to Washington, D.C. as well, helping shape water-specific legislation at
the federal level.
We do not take the power of our voice lightly because we know it could
not have been raised at all without a larger chorus of voices - our
membership, those people who represent such a broad range of users from
across this state, and who have learned how to build consensus about water
and its many uses - all within an organization that was once believed to be
the impossible dream of a few.
And while we're proud to be a leading voice on water issues, we're
humbled by the labors we're pledged to undertake, work that is - unlike
Colorado water - never-ending.