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 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.
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.
