Announcing the 2025 CWC Lifetime Achievement Award Winners

At the 2025 Summer Congress in Steamboat Springs, the Colorado Water Congress awarded two distinguished members with our 2025 CWC lifetime achievement award. John Currier and Stephen Leonhardt recieved this honor for their decades of tireless work and advocacy.

About John Currier

John Currier accepting his lifetime achievement award.

John has stepped down from the CWC Board of Directors representing the Lower Colorado River Watershed after 14 years. A longtime advocate for water rights in Colorado, John has been a critical voice to the water community in Colorado.

​ John is a western slope native with 40 years of experience in Colorado water, with both the public and private sectors. Currently the sole proprietor of Currier Water Consultants, LLC, he perviously served as Chief Engineer for the Colorado River District for 11 years. There, John managed the technical activities of the District, as well as helped guide the District’s intrastate and interstate policy.

Prior to his service with the River District, he served as a water resources engineering consultant in the private sector. He provided services to a broad spectrum of Colorado clients including the state, municipalities, special districts, ski areas, industrial water users, farmers and ranchers, conservancy districts and development interests.

About Stephen Leonhardt

Stephen Leonhardt

Thanks to decades of tireless advocacy in his law practice, Stephen Leonhardt also received a lifetime achievement award at the 2025 Colorado Water Congress Summer Conference.

Now retired, Stephen H. Leonhardt concentrated his practice on water law, related governmental and environmental issues, and litigation. Mr. Leonhardt counseled clients on the establishment, protection, and modification of water rights throughout Colorado. His clients included lock water suppliers, industrial water users, land developers, individual landowners, non-profit organizations and a regional water conservancy district.

He represented clients in judicial and administrative proceedings and transactions concerning rights to use both surface water and groundwater. He has represented clients in hundreds of cases in Colorado’s Water Courts, in several appeals in the Colorado Supreme Court, and in civil litigation involving ownership of water rights and operation of water systems. For his work in water law, Mr. Leonhardt has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America.

Mr. Leonhardt is actively involved in the Colorado Water Congress, and has represented the CWC in several legal proceedings involving proposed amendments to the Colorado Constitution. He is also a member of the Christian Legal Society (having served on the national Board of Directors). Mr. Leonhardt served on the Ethics Committee of the Colorado Bar Association from 1988 to 1996. He is a frequent lecturer on legal ethics, ballot initiatives, and issues related to water law. Mr. Leonhardt was born in Santa Monica, California, and grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He enjoys playing piano, hiking, fishing, travel, history and baseball.

Honoring Jody Schwindt

In addition to Mr. Currier and Mr. Leonhardt, we recognized Jody Schwindt for over two decades of service as a volunteer for our organization.

At each event, Jody brings her kind heart and enthusiastic spirit to the forefront of everything she does. We know you've enjoyed seeing Jody's smiling face as much as we have. For her service, we gifted Jody a silver and turquoise bracelet that we hope she cherishes as much as we cherish her.

Jody is married to Don Schwindt, the board member representing San Juan, Dolores, and San Miguel counties in southwestern Colorado. Jody and Don Schwindt started farming in their home community in Southwest Colorado in 1975 producing irrigated hay. Still active in agriculture, Don and Jody enjoy spending time with extended family, including their two children and six growing grandchildren.