Workshop On Demand
Week 4
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
The Ogallala
As a prelude to Thursday’s General Session on the Ogallala Aquifer, we will dive into some of the technical details behind the work funded by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Water for Agriculture Challenge program. A Colorado State University-led consortium of eight western universities and the USDA-Agricultural Research Service has worked for four years with a $10 million grant to address the challenge. The results of their work to date will be presented in 2021, but we will get an advance look and hear the story of how this remarkable project came to be.
Outcome: Attendees will learn about the critical connection between soil health and water conservation, deficit irrigation management for corn, and balancing short- and long-run outcomes of different management strategies.
Speakers:
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
The Ogallala
As a prelude to Thursday’s General Session on the Ogallala Aquifer, we will dive into some of the technical details behind the work funded by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Water for Agriculture Challenge program. A Colorado State University-led consortium of eight western universities and the USDA-Agricultural Research Service has worked for four years with a $10 million grant to address the challenge. The results of their work to date will be presented in 2021, but we will get an advance look and hear the story of how this remarkable project came to be.
Outcome: Attendees will learn about the critical connection between soil health and water conservation, deficit irrigation management for corn, and balancing short- and long-run outcomes of different management strategies.
Speakers:
- Amy Kremen, Colorado State University
- Jordan Suter, Colorado State University
- Allan Andales, Colorado State University
- Ryan Bailey, Colorado State University
- Daran Rudnick, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Jason Warren, Oklahoma State University
Week 3
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Colorado River Basin Administration
Staff from the Colorado Division of Water Resources will discuss three topics on river administration:
Installation of measuring devices in Division 6
How the Abandonment List is prepared. Communications with the water right owners, formal and informal, after the list is published What is a river call and how is it set?
Outcome: Learn about the practical aspects of river administration in Colorado.
Moderator: Kevin Rein Colorado State Engineer
Panelists:
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Colorado River Basin Administration
Staff from the Colorado Division of Water Resources will discuss three topics on river administration:
Installation of measuring devices in Division 6
How the Abandonment List is prepared. Communications with the water right owners, formal and informal, after the list is published What is a river call and how is it set?
Outcome: Learn about the practical aspects of river administration in Colorado.
Moderator: Kevin Rein Colorado State Engineer
Panelists:
- Corey DeAngelis, South Platte Division Engineer
- Tracy Kosloff, Deputy State Engineer
- Erin Light, Yampa/White Division Engineer
- Bill Tyner, Arkansas River Basin Division Engineer
Week 3
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
Operation Plan for Colorado River System Reservoirs
Since 2008, Lake Powell and Lake Mead have been operated in accordance with the Record of Decision for the Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and the Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. The 2007 Interim Guidelines will remain in effect through December 31, 2025 – through preparation of the 2026 Annual Operating Plan. The Bureau is conducting a retrospective review of past operations and actions under the 2007 Interim Guidelines Through this review, Reclamation intends to build a solid technical foundation that informs future consideration of operations and brings partners, stakeholders and the public to common understanding of past operations and their effectiveness. It is anticipated the review will be completed by the end of 2020.
Outcome: Learn about the practical aspects of river administration
in Colorado.
Speaker: Noe Santos, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Boulder Canyon Operations Office
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
Operation Plan for Colorado River System Reservoirs
Since 2008, Lake Powell and Lake Mead have been operated in accordance with the Record of Decision for the Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and the Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. The 2007 Interim Guidelines will remain in effect through December 31, 2025 – through preparation of the 2026 Annual Operating Plan. The Bureau is conducting a retrospective review of past operations and actions under the 2007 Interim Guidelines Through this review, Reclamation intends to build a solid technical foundation that informs future consideration of operations and brings partners, stakeholders and the public to common understanding of past operations and their effectiveness. It is anticipated the review will be completed by the end of 2020.
Outcome: Learn about the practical aspects of river administration
in Colorado.
Speaker: Noe Santos, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Boulder Canyon Operations Office
Week 2
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Scenario Planning Training
“Scenario thinking is both a process and a posture. It is the process through which scenarios are developed and then used to inform decision-making. . . . At its most powerful, scenarios help people and organizations find strength of purpose and strategic direction in the face of daunting, chaotic, and even frightening circumstances.”* Scenario planning may be the wave of the future in developing water supply strategies.
* From Heinrich Vogel, Why Scenarios?
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Scenario Planning Training
“Scenario thinking is both a process and a posture. It is the process through which scenarios are developed and then used to inform decision-making. . . . At its most powerful, scenarios help people and organizations find strength of purpose and strategic direction in the face of daunting, chaotic, and even frightening circumstances.”* Scenario planning may be the wave of the future in developing water supply strategies.
* From Heinrich Vogel, Why Scenarios?
Week 2
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
The Future of Forests
Rocky Mountain Restoration Initiative
At our Annual Convention in January, we served the appetizer (a first report) on the Rocky Mountain Restoration Initiative (RMRI). Join us for the next course served virtually. The RMRI is a diverse group of partners from Colorado, including land management agencies, water users, the recreation community, conservation organizations and more. Partners identified important landscapes, shared values, and potential strategies where a collective effort would begin working first to make a transformational change on the landscape for the health and resiliency of our forests and safety of our communities.
Last December, RMRI selected Southwest Colorado as the first place where it wanted to focus those collective efforts. The Southwest project area encompasses 750,000 acres of San Juan National Forest and private lands. Focused on communities and corridors, it includes the towns of Cortez, Mancos, Dolores, Durango, and Bayfield and stretches120 miles along Colorado Highway 160. RMRI is also supporting forest restoration activities in the Upper Arkansas and Upper South Platte watersheds.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
The Future of Forests
Rocky Mountain Restoration Initiative
At our Annual Convention in January, we served the appetizer (a first report) on the Rocky Mountain Restoration Initiative (RMRI). Join us for the next course served virtually. The RMRI is a diverse group of partners from Colorado, including land management agencies, water users, the recreation community, conservation organizations and more. Partners identified important landscapes, shared values, and potential strategies where a collective effort would begin working first to make a transformational change on the landscape for the health and resiliency of our forests and safety of our communities.
Last December, RMRI selected Southwest Colorado as the first place where it wanted to focus those collective efforts. The Southwest project area encompasses 750,000 acres of San Juan National Forest and private lands. Focused on communities and corridors, it includes the towns of Cortez, Mancos, Dolores, Durango, and Bayfield and stretches120 miles along Colorado Highway 160. RMRI is also supporting forest restoration activities in the Upper Arkansas and Upper South Platte watersheds.
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Moderator: Heather Bergman
Panelists:
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Week 1
THURSDAY, AUGUST 27
Gallagher Amendment
The Gallagher Amendment passed in 1982 in response to voters’ concerns about rising residential property taxes as a result of the state’s rapid population growth in the 1970’s. At that time, residential property in Colorado made up about 45% of total property value in the state, with other classes of property such as commercial property, agriculture land, vacant land, industrial property and public utilities making up the other 55%. The Gallagher Amendment proposed to freeze that ratio of the total value of residential property (45%) to the total value of non-residential property (55%). The net effect has been a forced reduction in the property tax “assessment rate” on residential property from 21% in 1982 to 7.15% in 2020.* Repeal of the Gallagher Amendment will be on voter’s ballots in November.
At the same time, the Colorado River Water Conservation District will have a measure on the ballot to increase their mill levy. If the $5 million/year measure passes, it will help with the decline in revenue due to both Gallagher and TABOR. The River District will have a source of funding to be applied to partnerships with water users and priority projects.
*Special thanks to Building A Better Colorado for this description
Speakers:
THURSDAY, AUGUST 27
Gallagher Amendment
The Gallagher Amendment passed in 1982 in response to voters’ concerns about rising residential property taxes as a result of the state’s rapid population growth in the 1970’s. At that time, residential property in Colorado made up about 45% of total property value in the state, with other classes of property such as commercial property, agriculture land, vacant land, industrial property and public utilities making up the other 55%. The Gallagher Amendment proposed to freeze that ratio of the total value of residential property (45%) to the total value of non-residential property (55%). The net effect has been a forced reduction in the property tax “assessment rate” on residential property from 21% in 1982 to 7.15% in 2020.* Repeal of the Gallagher Amendment will be on voter’s ballots in November.
At the same time, the Colorado River Water Conservation District will have a measure on the ballot to increase their mill levy. If the $5 million/year measure passes, it will help with the decline in revenue due to both Gallagher and TABOR. The River District will have a source of funding to be applied to partnerships with water users and priority projects.
*Special thanks to Building A Better Colorado for this description
Speakers:
- Reeves Brown, Build A Better Colorado
- Ann Terry, Special District Association of Colorado
- David Merritt, Colorado River Water Conservation District
- Josh Penry, fmr. CO legislator
- Bernie Buescher fmr. CO Secretary of State
Week 1
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25
Federal Legislative Process Training
Advocacy is an important part of the work of the Colorado Water Congress and our water community. Whether or not you are directly involved in federal advocacy, understanding how Congress is organized to work on water-related matters will be of help as we report on the progress of federal legislation. Attending this workshop will deepen your awareness of key Congressional committees, where water bills typically get assigned, who key Committee staff members are, and how positions have to work together to get legislation passed.
Moderator: Ian Lyle, National Water Resources Association
Panelists:
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25
Federal Legislative Process Training
Advocacy is an important part of the work of the Colorado Water Congress and our water community. Whether or not you are directly involved in federal advocacy, understanding how Congress is organized to work on water-related matters will be of help as we report on the progress of federal legislation. Attending this workshop will deepen your awareness of key Congressional committees, where water bills typically get assigned, who key Committee staff members are, and how positions have to work together to get legislation passed.
Moderator: Ian Lyle, National Water Resources Association
Panelists:
- Carlee Brown, U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources; Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife
- Lane Dickson, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Dustin Sherer, Senator Gardner’s Office
Thank you to our sponsors
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