2022-2023 Water Education Colorado Annual Report

22 | 23 ANNUAL REPORT

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dear friends and supporters,

Water Education Colorado (WEco) has fostered informed water decision making among elected and appointed officials, water sector professionals, educators, and interested community members since 2002. Thanks to a diverse community of valuable contributors like you, the organization’s reach and impact continues to expand.

Over the past 22 years, WEco has firmly established itself as a trusted source of high quality, factual, compelling, and relevant products and programs. Every year, a growing number of people look to WEco as a resource to help them become better educated and equipped to participate in water-related discussions, problem solving, and leadership.

Colorado and the West face increasing water scarcity in a climate of “aridification,” even while we attract significant population growth. Competition for and pressure on our limited water resources is escalating. Coloradans need to be aware of the risks to their water supply and the water management challenges their communities face, as well as the solutions that are available to them, whether through technological innovation, policy development, regulatory mechanisms, or individual behavior change.

This report summarizes the impact you helped make possible in 2022 and 2023. Here are just a few highlights:

• In 2022, WEco led the year-long, statewide Water ‘22 public awareness campaign, reaching hundreds of thousands of Coloradans with the message that “It all starts here,” with each of us doing our part to protect our valuable water resources.

• Between January-April 2023, WEco held a series of education sessions at the Capitol for legislators and staff looking to become more informed on water resources and related challenges. Hosted in partnership with Colorado Water Congress, these presentations were well received, and we plan to continue them.

• In October 2023, WEco concluded the 17th year of the Water Leaders Program with an expanded class size of 20, bringing the total number of professionals we have trained to 242.

• In November 2023, WEco announced a new partnership with the Colorado Sun, where we are testing a model of joint publishing for Fresh Water News to grow its impact and reach.

WEco is a community-based organization that benefits from the widespread support of a broad network of subject matter experts who lend their time and expertise to ensure WEco programs present the best possible information and represent diverse perspectives.

We’re also reliant on member organizations and individuals, as well as grant funders and donors, who commit financial resources to the cause.

Thank you for your commitment to advancing the mission of WEco for the benefit of current and future generations.

The importance and relevance of WEco’s mission is only growing with time. We’re going to keep using our programs and outreach efforts to engage Coloradans in caring about water, working collaboratively, and contributing to workable solutions for a sustainable water future.

Lisa and Jayla

President, Board of Trustees, Water Education Colorado

Executive Director, South Metro Water Supply Authority

Executive Director, Water Education Colorado

OUR MISSION

We’re on a mission to ensure Coloradans are informed on water issues and equipped to make decisions that guide our state to a sustainable water future.

OUR VALUES

Water is life - Celebrate it and protect it.

Information is for all - Be accessible to anyone who wants to understand and engage.

Objectivity is fundamental - Include diverse perspectives for balanced solutions.

Knowledge is progress - Empower Coloradans to learn and lead thoughtfully.

Collaboration is powerful - Enable partnerships because we are better together.

OUR VISION

A vibrant, sustainable, and water-aware Colorado

We envision a Colorado in which newcomers, long-time residents, and those who have lived here their whole lives appreciate and understand water, and where people of all backgrounds and perspectives, in all localities, are learning, listening, engaging, and working together on collaborative water solutions.

We see a Colorado in which people make individual and institutional decisions and demonstrate thoughtful water stewardship in their behaviors and actions.

We see a WEco that is an inspiring and authentic partner for water educators, water leaders and water users, and whose audience is representative of the state’s demographic and geographic diversity.

OUR APPROACH

Bridging gaps in understanding with integrity

We understand that water issues can be both complex and polarizing, so we work to bring together diverse perspectives, build bridges among sectors, and provide valuable reporting, training and resources for all Coloradans.

CELEBRATING AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Over the course of 2022 and 2023, Water Education Colorado was recognized in several meaningful ways for our work to inform and engage Coloradans on water.

FRIEND OF THE SOUTH PLATTE

In December 2022, the South Platte Forum recognized WEco with its 2022 Friend of the South Platte award for work to elevate water’s importance through the Water ‘22 campaign.

The award was initiated in 2004 to recognize individuals and organizations who, through diligence and dedication, have made exceptional contributions in the South Platte River Basin, and WEco is both humbled and proud to join the ranks of the esteemed awardees who have been honored over time.

COLORADO COMMUNITY WATER HERO

At the launch celebration for the 2023 Colorado Water Plan update last January, the Colorado Water Conservation Board honored WEco as a Colorado Community Water Hero, an award that recognized individuals and organizations who were instrumental in bringing the updated Colorado Water Plan to fruition. Specifically, the CWCB noted WEco’s work to draw attention to the water plan update through the Water ‘22 campaign.

COLORADO PRESS ASSOCIATION

In September 2022, Fresh Water News received two awards from the Colorado Press Association for articles published in 2021.

• 1st Place for Best Editorial Collaboration for the package Fresh Water News produced based on the reporting of 10 news fellows who participated in our 2021 Water Fluency for Journalists program. That story, “Special Report: Climate change is sapping Colorado’s water supplies. Can its hallmark water law stave off crippling shortages?” published in December 2021.

• 2nd Place for Best Environmental Reporting for the article “Special Report: Inside the toxic link between Colorado’s wildfires and its water,” published in May 2021.

Then, in September 2023, Fresh Water News received additional awards:

• 2nd Place for Best Environmental Story for “Special Report: Colorado, New Mexico struggle to save the blistered Rio Grande, with lessons for other drought-strapped rivers,” published in July 2022.

• 2nd Place for Best Public Service Project for “Hard water: In these metro neighborhoods, few drink the tap water. Can trust in safe water make a comeback?” published in November 2022.

THANK YOU to all of our volunteers, contributors and supporters over the past 22 years. You made these successes and this impact possible.

ABOVE: President Lisa Darling, Publications and Digital Resources Managing Editor Caitlin Coleman, and Publications Chair Brian Werner accept the Friend of the South Platte Award. | BELOW: Programs Director Sabrina White, Executive Director Jayla Poppleton, and Education and Outreach Coordinator Cailyn Andrews accept the Colorado Community Hero Award.

ABOVE: The 2021 Water Fluency for Journalists fellows who worked with Fresh Water News Editor Jerd Smith on a collaborative news package were honored with a 1st place award from the Colorado Press Association.

OUR IMPACT AT A GLANCE

2022-2023

PEOPLE REACHED BY PROGRAM AREA

425,500 100 2,075 350 >100,000 News and Publications Leadership Programs Education Programs Water Educator Network Programs Water ‘22

with more than 42 million media touches

COLLECTIVE IMPACT ADDS UP

844 297 529,166 Members and Donors Volunteers Total People Impacted

ONE MAJOR MOVE

After many years of planning and anticipation, Water Education Colorado moved our office to the new CSU Spur Hydro Building at the National Western Center in January 2023. This is a tremendous opportunity to increase WEco’s visibility as a resource to the public, and to collaborate to provide water education programming at the site and beyond.

Come visit us next time you’re at Spur!

REACHING DECISION MAKERS

Water Education Colorado is committed to informing state and local, as well as federal, policy makers.

We deliver each issue of Headwaters magazine to legislators at the state capitol, every county office, and to the offices of Colorado’s congressional representatives, plus as many municipal leaders as possible. We also make a point to inform these decision makers of upcoming opportunities to learn more about Colorado water through WEco programs and events such as tours, the Water Fluency Program, and the Citizen’s Guide series.

STATE LEGISLATOR EDUCATION IN 2023

With over 50% of legislators entering the 2023 session as newly electeds, we partnered with Colorado Water Congress to hold a legislative water workshop called “Demystifying Colorado Water for Legislators” during the first week of the session. We had 24 legislators attend for some or all of the 2.5-hour program. Approximately 30 additional individuals attended, including lobbyists and legislative staff.

Legislators received informational packets including a copy of Headwaters magazine and the Citizen’s Guide to Colorado Water Law, fact sheets, and a water bibliography of key resources. Because of the success of this workshop, we held an additional series of workshops coined “Water 201s.” These workshops covered a deep dive into the Colorado River and legal issues surrounding its administration, agricultural water challenges and solutions, and managing municipal water efficiency, growth and affordability. Each of these sessions was attended by 10- 25 legislators, and an additional 15-20 aides, lobbyists, and other interested parties.

All three 201 workshops were video-recorded. The recordings, agendas and slide decks are all available on the WEco website, and WEco is exploring how to carry this level of work forward into the future.

In addition, members and staff from the legislative Agriculture and Water Resources Review Committee joined WEco for the Annual Basin Tour in June 2023.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER EDUCATION IN 2023

County commissioners also have significant influence on Colorado’s water future, especially when it comes to land use decisions.

Working with several county commissioners who are very involved with water, we partnered with Colorado Counties, Inc, to bring a “Demystifying Colorado Water for County Commissioners” session to their annual winter conference in Nov. 2023. More than 60 commissioners attended to learn about the basics of Colorado water law, the interface with the primary water agencies and authorities at the state level, and the connection between land use and water. We solicited feedback from the group around topics they’d like to see for future “201” level trainings and will be working to develop those opportunities into 2024.

ABOVE: The Denver Capitol building.

ABOVE MIDDLE: County commissioners attend a WEco water workshop in November 2023. | BELOW MIDDLE: WEco hosts its first 2023 legislator 201-level workshop at the Capitol in 2023 with a presentation from Upper Colorado River Commissioner Becky Mitchell. | BELOW: Legislators and legislative council staff on the 2023 Annual River Basin Tour.

HONORING LEADERSHIP

Water Education Colorado’s annual President’s Reception provides an opportunity to gather supporters to celebrate our mission and impact while honoring water leaders in the community.

20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

At the 2022 President’s Reception, WEco celebrated a major milestone, reaching our 20th anniversary, with a record turnout at the event. Together we recognized that the vision that began 20 years earlier, of fostering a vibrant, sustainable and water-aware Colorado through a statewide, independent, non-partisan water education organization, holds as important a role as ever in ensuring a secure water future for the next generations.

DIANE HOPPE LEADERSHIP AWARD

Each year at the President’s Reception, WEco bestows an important annual award on a Coloradan who has made extraordinary lifetime contributions to Colorado water, is highly regarded among peers, and has demonstrated sincere commitment to advancing water education.

What started in 2007 as WEco’s President’s Award was renamed the Diane Hoppe Leadership Award in 2016 to recognize the legacy of this Colorado water visionary.

The 2022 Diane Hoppe Leadership Award was awarded posthumously to Greg Hobbs, former Colorado Supreme Court justice and long-time Vice-President for Water Education Colorado. Greg was one of Colorado’s most knowledgeable legal minds and one of its most able and accomplished speakers, teachers, writers and historians. He was also a tireless advocate and ambassador for WEco. He passed away in November 2021.

The 2023 Diane Hoppe Leadership Award went to Anne Castle, senior fellow at the GetchesWilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment at the University of Colorado Law School and current U.S. Commissioner for the Upper Colorado River Commission. Anne is a recognized leader with over four decades of Western, national, and international success in water law and policy and an ongoing quest to achieve sustainability and justice in Western water. She is also a frequent volunteer contributor to WEco programs.

EMERGING LEADER AWARD

In 2010, WEco introduced the Emerging Leader Award to honor young to mid-career Colorado professionals whose work is making a significant difference for Colorado’s water future and for water education.

The 2022 Emerging Leader Award went to Sonja Chavez, General Manager of the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District. Sonja has not only been an instrumental leader for water on the Western Slope, but has also worked to advance equity in water statewide. She is a graduate of WEco’s Water Leaders Program and has contributed to many WEco programs.

The 2023 Emerging Leader Award went to Russ Sands, Water Supply Planning Section Chief at the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Russ led the development of the 2023 Colorado Water Plan update and continues to work to elevate issues and solutions like water education, conservation, collaboration, and climate adaptation across all sectors in the state.

ABOVE: Bobbie Hobbs, the widow of Greg Hobbs, and their children accept Greg Hobbs’ posthumous award at the 2022 President’s Reception. | MIDDLE: Anne Castle (left) with Ted Kowalski, Executive Director Jayla Poppleton, and Russ Sands (right) at the 2023 President’s Reception. | BELOW: WEco Board Member Kelly Romero-Heaney (left) with Sonja Chavez in 2022.

93% of Headwaters readers and 94% of Fresh Water News readers said reading the publication made them more equipped to participate in discussions that influence waterrelated policy.

NEWS & PUBLICATIONS

HEADWATERS MAGAZINE

PRESSING WATER ISSUES EXPLAINED, WEIGHED, ANIMATED, ELEVATED

Covering critical water issues around the state with compelling, impartial reporting and rich storytelling, Headwaters magazine is Water Education Colorado’s flagship publication. We’ve been publishing Headwaters since 2003, and our Fall 2023 issue marked our 60th issue in the books!

The magazine reaches a diverse audience across the state and beyond, with distribution of print copies to WEco members, as well as to legislators, county commissioners, municipal leaders, water managers, educators and students, and state libraries. All issues of the magazine are archived online, allowing for easy accessibility and online reading.

In 2022-2023 we published six issues of Headwaters:

• Spring 2022: Tribal Water

• Summer 2022: On-Farm/Ranch Sustainable Water Management Practices

• Fall 2022: The Federal Nexus with Colorado Water Management

• Spring 2023: The Colorado Water Plan Update

• Summer 2023: Healthy Headwaters and Natural Infrastructure

• Fall 2023: One Water Approaches

WEBINARS

LEARNING FROM THE CONVENIENCE OF YOUR OWN DESK

Webinars complimenting the content published in Headwaters help further enrich learning on the topics covered that year in an easily accessible format that connects experts with audiences.

2022 WEBINARS

Up Your Wildfire Resilience!

90 participants

Colorado Ute Tribal

Water Rights and Access

128 participants

Soil Health and Water

56 participants

Water Law 101

375 participants

2023 WEBINARS

The Upper Colorado and San Juan rivers endangered fish recovery programs: What’s at stake as reauthorization looms?

63 participants

The Colorado Water Plan in Action

76 participants

The Process Based Restoration PBR Umbrella

291 participants

CITIZEN AND COMMUNITY GUIDES

PEER-REVIEWED INFORMATION TO EXPAND WATER KNOWLEDGE

Water Education Colorado’s high-quality reference series features 10 guides to critical water resource management topics ranging from water law to interstate compacts, water conservation, water quality protection, where your water comes from, and more. The guides are used in a variety of personal and group educational settings, including workshops, seminars, and course curriculum, and are widely distributed across Colorado, including to state legislators and participants in WEco’s Water Fluency Program. All of the guides are available to read for free online.

In 2023, we translated and published two of the guides in Spanish, and we will continue to translate the rest of the series. As part of this translation and equity work, we’re also renaming the guides to “Community Guides,” which will be phased in as the guides are updated and reprinted.

FRESH WATER NEWS

AN INDEPENDENT, NONPARTISAN NEWS SERVICE ON WESTERN WATER

Fresh Water News celebrated its 5th anniversary in July 2023. In 2018, recognizing the need for a more flexible platform to provide timely water journalism to our readers, Water Education Colorado launched the Fresh Water News initiative. Since its launch, we have published more than 250 original news stories that have been shared with thousands of Coloradans from Steamboat to Sterling, Colorado Springs, Durango and Denver.

More than a dozen media partners continue to republish Fresh Water News articles to help fill gaps in water coverage that is critical to the state of Colorado. And our readership continues to grow and engage, with the Fresh Water News weekly news report regularly reaching an open rate above 40%, in an industry where the average is 24%.

In 2022, Fresh Water News participated in an equity in water news reporting initiative, funded by the Colorado Media Project. We explored communities in metro Denver and Adams County whose battle with water contamination dates back to the 1980s. Working with a local community organization that engages with the Spanish-speaking community, and with the aid of a Spanish interpreter, Fresh Water News knocked on doors in the community to hear about their experiences and concerns first-hand. The news package, “Hard water: In these metro neighborhoods, few drink the tap water. Can trust in safe water make a comeback?” was published in November 2022 in both English and Spanish.

In order to grow Fresh Water News’ capacity to cover a wider breadth of issues and reach a larger audience, in November 2023 we announced a new partnership with the Colorado Sun. Over a nine-month pilot period, we will be testing a model of joint publishing for Fresh Water News to strengthen and expand nonpartisan water reporting across Colorado. By joining forces, Fresh Water News will continue to benefit from WEco’s expertise in water issues while gaining valuable reporting and distribution capacity from The Sun, as the team pursues new vehicles to expand reporting and reach new audiences.

Our first jointly published story was released on Nov. 19: “Special Report: Colorado River crisis — How did the nation’s two largest reservoirs nearly go dry?” with support from The Water Desk at the University of Colorado Boulder.

ABOVE: The Where Your Water Comes From and Colorado Water Law guides are the first two guides from WEco's library to be made available in Spanish. | BELOW: Fresh Water News continues to publish original coverage of top stories weekly, and strives to highlight underrepresented voices and their waterrelated concerns.

LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS

WATER LEADERS PROGRAM

TAKING LEADERS TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Since 2006, Water Education Colorado has trained 242 water sector professionals through the Water Leaders Program. The program continues to evolve to include the most advanced development tools to help people who have already demonstrated a tremendous commitment to water become more effective and capable in charting the path forward toward innovative and collaborative water solutions in an increasingly complex environment.

“This was possibly the greatest experience of my career thus far.”

– Holly Kirkpatrick, Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District, Water Leaders Class of 2023

Centered on developing emotional intelligence as a foundation, the program explores topics such as understanding yourself as a leader, developing your leadership style, building more effective teams, navigating conflict, change management, managing your energy, and designing your leadership legacy. Participants engage in training sessions, self-assessments, a 360 feedback exercise, executive coaching and peer coaching, and also learn from other leaders in the field through Leaders Unplugged panels and the opportunity to work with mentors who volunteer their time to support individual class members. They also design and begin to implement a development plan that defines their professional short- and long-term goals and steps to get there.

Participants report experiencing increased effectiveness and fulfillment in both their professional and personal lives following completion of the program. Many call it a life-changing experience. In order to increase our impact through Water Leaders, we expanded the class size from 16 to 20 in 2023.

of 2022-2023 graduates planned to pursue opportunities to increase their leadership within their workplace following participation in Water Leaders.

of 2022-2023 graduates planned to seek a new role on a roundtable, board, committee or leadership position outside of their place of employment following participation in Water Leaders.

“The activities and lessons in Water Leaders helped me realize my strengths and understand how I can optimize them to my own leadership style.”

– Logan Hartle, Elbert Creek Water Company, Water Leaders Class of 2023

ABOVE: Programs Director Sabrina White welcomes the 2023 Water Leaders class to one of its training sessions. | MIDDLE: Identified traits of emotionally intelligent leaders. BELOW: The 2022 Water Leaders graduating class takes a bow.

The 2023 Water Leaders class celebrates completion of the program.

WATER FLUENCY PROGRAM

NAVIGATING THE CULTURE, COMPLEXITY AND FUTURE OF WATER MANAGEMENT

The Water Fluency Program is a professional development course targeting elected and appointed officials, community and business leaders, educators, or anyone else without a formal water background or new to the state of Colorado who is tasked with water-related management and decision making.

of 2022-2023 graduates said the Water Fluency Program increased their understanding of Colorado water to a great or very great extent.

of 2022-2023 graduates said the Water Fluency Program will impact their decision making to a great or very great extent.

Cohorts of 35 participants annually have the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of Colorado water management and protection through highly sought-out lectures, discussions, exclusive access to water sector leaders, breakout networking opportunities, a complete set of WEco’s Citizen’s Guides, reading assignments, and additional coursework.

Going into its tenth year, the program covers topics of statewide relevance while showcasing water management examples from a different river basin each year.

In 2022, WEco featured the Gunnison Basin, and in 2023, the Rio Grande Basin.

“The program helped me to establish a clear baseline understanding of water in Colorado.”

– Hannah Boldt, Shea Properties, 2023 Water Fluency Program Participant

“ This is a great program that should be offered in high school or college as a core requirement. Everything that we learned affects everyone in the state.”

– 2023 Water Fluency Program Participant

ABOVE: 2022 Water Fluency class members listen during a presentation from Colorado Water Trust Executive Director Kate Ryan, a Water Leaders Program alumna, in Gunnison. | BELOW: Local leaders talk with the 2022 class during a site visit at Blue Mesa Reservoir.

The 2022 Water Fluency class visits a wet meadow restoration site in Gunnison.

WATER ‘22 CAMPAIGN

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Between January to December 2022, Water Education Colorado spearheaded Water ’22, a year-long public awareness campaign and celebration of Colorado’s water.

THE WATER ‘22 CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED IN JANUARY 2022 WITH A PROCLAMATION FROM GOV. JARED POLIS, DECLARING 2022 THE YEAR OF WATER AND PROVIDING CONTEXT AND URGENCY AROUND THE NEED TO ENGAGE MORE COLORADANS IN WATER STEWARDSHIP.

Water ‘22 was modeled off of an earlier effort led by Water Education Colorado 10 years prior, called Water 2012. Both campaigns centered on elevating water’s importance, and both drew from major water-related milestones as jumping off points. In 2022, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Colorado River Compact, the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the 20th anniversary of Water Education Colorado, and the year when the 2015 Colorado Water Plan was being updated to continue Colorado’s long history of ensuring high quality water to support a wide range of water uses and values.

By drawing attention to those milestones and to the converging challenges of climate change and growth, Water ‘22 called upon Coloradans to come together to meet the urgency of the moment through increased awareness, knowledge, participation and adoption of sustainable water behaviors. The campaign tagline was “It all starts here,” with our source watersheds, and with each of us doing our part.

Campaign goals included:

• Connect Coloradans to existing and new opportunities to learn about water and how they can affect change.

• Motivate Coloradans to become more proactive participants in Colorado’s water future.

• Instill passion for water programs throughout the community by maximizing visibility of Water ’22 campaign messages and Water ’22 events.

A key component driving the programming of Water ‘22 centered on the “22 Ways to Care for Colorado Water in 2022,” a list of simple actions that anyone could take to conserve and protect Colorado water. Campaign messaging urged Coloradans to take the Water ’22 pledge to commit to these actions, starting with knowing where your water comes from as the first step toward understanding why your actions matter.

During the course of the year, the campaign also drew attention to water through World Water Day, Earth Day, EPA’s Fix a Leak Week, National Drinking Water Week, National Stormwater Awareness Week, and more.

WEco enlisted support from more than 65 campaign partners, and developed a campaign marketing toolkit that was accessed by more than 614 individuals over the course of the year. Social media posts, email and website banners, physical banners, flyers, stickers, press releases, and more were all assets included in the toolkit.

The Water ‘22 website was a hub for more information and resources related to the campaign. It included a comprehensive calendar of events for all things water-related taking place for the year, most of which included a campaign presence. Events ranged from river festivals and clean ups to beer festivals, state-of-the-river events, rainbarrel building workshops, water forums, tours and more. WEco worked with the regional river basin roundtables to hold 9 “mini-tours” in each of the state’s major river basins to highlight their unique characteristics, challenges and priorities.

ABOVE: Colorado Department of Natural Resources Director Dan Gibbs, Governor Jared Polis, Executive Director Jayla Poppleton, and Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg kicked off the Water '22 campaign at Colorado Water Congress.

MIDDLE: Two elementary-

brothers won 1st place in the Water '22 Student Showcase for their lego model of a watershed.

BELOW MIDDLE: Water '22 engaged community members at Denver's Bike to Work Day event.

BELOW: Water '22 hosted tours in every river basin, including the Southwest, with a visit to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Farm and Ranch.

Partners contributed to implementing activities throughout the state, including volunteer projects, community presentations, film screenings, a student water awareness week, a book club with featured author talks, and much more. Public relations strategies helped to get the word out widely to the general public via print, radio and television media outlets, as well as social media. Monthly public service announcements (PSAs) were released featuring celebrity voices speaking to why water matters to so many different aspects of our lives in Colorado.

AMONG OTHERS, THESE LEADERS AND CELEBRITIES LENT THEIR VOICE TO THE CAMPAIGN THROUGH THE MONTHLY PSAS:

• Ute Mountain Ute Chairman Manuel Heart

• Olympic skier Jeremy Bloom

• 2022 Colorado Teacher of the Year Autumn Rivera

Campaign highlights included:

• Blind adventurer and No Barriers founder Erik Weihenmayer

• Flobots’ singer Stephen Brackett

• Press outreach to gain earned media coverage resulted in 57 stories in outlets across the state with an estimated reach of more than 42 million

• The majority of campaign materials were developed in both English and Spanish, and all of the PSAs were produced with both closed captioning for the hearing impaired as well as Spanish subtitles

• 10,000 “22 Ways to Care for Colorado Water” flyers distributed in English and another 5,000 in Spanish

• Engagement of the brewing industry and beer-loving public through distribution of 10,000 “It Takes Great Water to Make Great Beer” campaign coasters and a presence at a half-dozen beer festival events

• PSA featuring Channel 9 News anchor Tom Green received a $20,000 in-kind on-air promotional schedule, and PSA featuring Coors Field groundskeeper Mark Razum played during Rockies home games

• Partnership with local bookstores to present virtual and live events drew more than 1,000 people to featured author talks with Paolo Bacigalupi, Kevin Fedarko, Tershia D’Elgin, and Jonathan Thompson

• A youth engagement component included a Student Water Awareness Week in April and a Student Showcase that concluded in October, with 169 submissions, 40 recognized as top entrants, and four receiving cash prizes and media attention

The campaign’s ultimate goal was to turn awareness and learning into action. Aside from the millions of media touches, Water ‘22 successfully reached over 100,000 social media and web followers, volunteers, and event attendees to become engaged. Attendance at Water ‘22 events says Coloradans are interested in learning about water, and the future of water in our state. Although difficult to measure the campaign’s ultimate impact on actions and behavior change, Water ‘22 opened the door to education, learning, and action among a large number of new Coloradans.

STEVE SANDER NOV. 3, 1953 – OCT. 16, 2023

Steve Sander, former president of Sander Marketing, played an instrumental role in the development and implementation of the Water ‘22 campaign. He was an inspirational, passionate and creative force, who loved learning more about the state’s water during the time he spent on the campaign. He passed away in October 2023 and is deeply missed by all who knew him.

LEARNING IN THE FIELD

“As

an ‘Interested Citizen’ not associated with any waterrelated organization I came away with a much greater appreciation of the scope, history and importance of the water ‘industry’ in Colorado.”

– Gregg Hendry, 2022 Tour Participant

Each year, Water Education Colorado takes lawmakers, water managers, attorneys, engineers and members of the public on a tour of a different river basin in Colorado to learn about the history, water management practices and challenges of the area. These fun and informative multiday tours draw attendees statewide.

2022 UPPER COLORADO RIVER BASIN TOUR

2022 marked the 100th anniversary of the Colorado River Compact, and we offered an extended Annual River Basin Tour featuring the Upper Colorado River Basin in commemoration.

Our group spent three days traversing a route from Silverthorne to Winter Park, Kremmling, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction, Montrose, Hotchkiss, Crawford, Buena Vista and back.

While we rolled across Western Colorado, with presenters discussing the history of the layered water-sharing agreements in place with our neighboring states, the U.S. Reclamation Commissioner issued an order for the seven Colorado River basin states to find a way to cut back use by an unprecedented amount. It was incredible to share this historic moment with a group of people all invested in learning more about how they can contribute to a positive future for Colorado water.

Tour participants included people working for state and federal agencies, local governments, nonprofits, educational and research institutions, irrigation companies and water districts, as well as congressional and state legislative staff.

57 PARTICIPANTS

74%

said the tour equipped them to participate in water conversations at the local, state, regional, national and/or multistate level to a great or very great extent.

2023 YAMPA/WHITE/GREEN BASIN TOUR

Our 2023 tour visited Colorado’s beautiful northwestern corner, traveling between the Town of Yampa near the Yampa River headwaters, through the Upper Yampa Basin and into the White River Basin into Meeker and back. Participants learned about the unique complexities of managing water in the state’s least administered river system, which is often characterized as a free-flowing river in its hydrology due to the very limited reservoir storage capacity in the system.

Recreation, wildfire, endangered species, agricultural practices and infrastructure improvement, tribal lands, urban growth, and economic development in the wake of an energy transition from coal-fired power to something greener were all topics that were discussed on the tour.

The group included members of the Colorado Legislature’s Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee and their staff, as well as people working for or involved with nonprofits, educational institutions, and various water management entities from across Colorado and beyond.

ABOVE: A memorable 2022 tour stop gave participants unique access to the Grand Valley Diversion Dam on the Colorado River. | BELOW: Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association Manager Steve Pope describes an irrigation system during a 2022 tour stop near Delta.

2023 YAMPA/WHITE/GREEN BASIN TOUR CONTINUED

32 PARTICIPANTS

92%

said the tour increased their understanding of the local nexus between water and agriculture, municipalities, energy development, recreation and environmental recreation to a great or very great extent.

WATER ‘22 MINI-TOURS

Throughout Summer 2022, Water Education Colorado collaborated with the state’s Basin Roundtables and Public Education, Participation and Outreach liaisons to coordinate a series of “mini-tours” across the state. The tours hosted between 15-45 people in the course of a day to learn about each of the major river basins’ water management.

Participants were specifically recruited to attend these tours with the intention of exposing people who aren’t typically part of the water-related conversation to the issues, including business owners and other local leaders, students, and individuals from outside of the basin.

“ For me, getting away from the highest level policy conversations and seeing more of the ‘water level’ operations is invaluable.” – Josh Abram, Colorado Legislative Council, 2023 Tour Participant “

The tours were held in conjunction with the Water ’22 campaign to bring increased awareness to local water challenges, priorities and projects as well as the role of the Basin Roundtables. The 2023 Colorado Water Plan update, which was underway and actively enlisting public participation at the time, was also emphasized.

In order to make the learning opportunity accessible to more people, WEco filmed the tours and condensed them into 8-10 minute snapshots of the tour experience. The videos were then published on the WEco website and distributed via all of the Basin Roundtables.

173 PARTICIPANTS

74%

said they were likely or very likely to increase their involvement with water issues following participation in the Water ‘22 mini-tour they attended.

Coming from the Front Range, I gained a better understanding of water considerations in the Southwest Basin.”

– Molly Morris, Grow Landscape Design, 2022 Southwest Basin Mini-Tour Participant

ABOVE: The Water ‘22 Mini-Tour featuring the Metro Basin was held in partnership with Denver Botanic Gardens and the One World One Water Center at Metro State University, and included a stop at Chatfield Reservoir. BELOW: Farmer and Colorado Department of Agriculture staff member Paul Kehmeier points out irrigation technologies along the bus route for the 2022 tour.

Participants on the 2022 Upper Colorado River Basin Tour visit a scenic vineyard in Palisade.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

THE WATER EDUCATOR NETWORK

COLLECTIVE IMPACT FOR WATER EDUCATION

The Water Educator Network (WEN) is WEco’s affiliate program for education and outreach professionals dedicated to advancing understanding about water for a diversity of communities and audiences across the state. WEco provides support as a convener and provisioner of resources, tools and trainings to help them be as effective and impactful as possible.

In addition, WEco maintains a searchable directory of active affiliates on its website as a tool for educators to connect with each other, or for community groups or other organizers looking for educational resources or presenters to find the support they need to create meaningful educational experiences.

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN WATER ‘22

To align with the Water ’22 campaign in 2022, WEco provided new resources for educators serving K-12 audiences. This included a Student Water Awareness Week activity toolkit and the offering of a Water ’22 Student Showcase. The Student Showcase, presented in partnership with Colorado Humanities, encouraged Colorado students, grades K-12, to create a work that reflects a place, thing, or activity they love connected to water that is within their local watershed or river basin. The entries were judged by panels and awarded prizes. Top entrants were also invited to share their concern for water with the media as well as with legislators during a visit to the state Capitol, coordinated by WEco.

WATER FESTIVAL COORDINATORS

WEco convened its annual Water Festival Coordinators Gathering in 2022 and 2023 to support planning and implementation of these fun and engaging youth-focused festivals that take place across the state.

PROJECT WET

As part of supporting WEN, WEco continued to serve as Colorado’s host institution for Project WET, a global resource for standards-aligned K-12 curriculum and lesson plans focused on water. Project WET features hands-on, science-based water education resources that encourage responsible environmental stewardship and promote meaningful action to address environmental challenges, social justice, and sustainability. WEco offered multiple Project WET trainings for educators and facilitators in 2022 and 2023.

TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

In 2022, WEco supported the second year of a pilot teacher Professional Development Unit for Denver Public Schools, together with partners that included Denver Water and City and County of Denver Stormwater Education.

Nine participating teachers gained first-hand experience and knowledge in locally relevant water issues through field excursions, connection with experts, and peer learning. They were challenged to create an engaging and compelling unit of study with questions to explore with students, such as: What makes water unique? How does water impact your life? Where does your water come from? What is the future of water in Colorado? Who gets water during dry times (and who doesn’t)? They took this back to their classrooms to help prepare the next generation of stewards for this public resource.

SUBMISSIONS TO THE WATER ‘22

ABOVE: Top entrants from the Water ‘22 Student Showcase speak with legislators following a tour of the state Capitol.

MIDDLE: Students at Shelledy Elementary School in Fruita take part in the 2022 Student Water Awareness Week.

BELOW: Eighth grader Erica Dornberger from Aurora Quest school is interviewed on Fox 31 News about her 3rd place award for the Water ‘22 Student Showcase.

SUSTAINING COLORADO WATERSHEDS CONFERENCE

THE ANNUAL SUSTAINING COLORADO WATERSHEDS CONFERENCE IS A POWERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION FOR NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION, PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT.

The conference, now ongoing for 19 years, not only informs, but also engages, community members, water management agencies, nonprofit organizations, consultants, policy makers, students, educators, funders and regulators on current issues. For the past 13 years, the partnership collaboration has included Water Education Colorado, along with the Colorado Watershed Assembly and the Colorado Riparian Association.

In 2022, the conference theme was “Bridging Connections: Learning from the Past, Investing in the Future.” We focused on ways we inherit the systems and legacies of the past, for better or worse, and consider what we might maintain, what we can build from, and what we must “fix.” Together, our presenters, sponsors, and attendees examined ways we can “bridge” toward new, innovative methods that mimic natural systems for resiliency, including through major infrastructure investments on the horizon nationwide.

The 2023 conference theme, “Beyond the Banks: Expanding Perspectives to Change Our World,” emphasized the need to expand our thinking, incorporate new perspectives, explore paradigm shifts, and collaborate across disciplines and sectors to continue solving complex problems. Presentations explored:

• How we can view the health and sustainability of our watersheds holistically, addressing issues such as climate change, water quality, and equitable access and involvement in water resources stewardship and decision making.

• Where are we looking beyond the streambanks in our projects, approaches, and policies to also include the floodplain, uplands, and developed areas within a watershed.

• Ways to promote the people, process, and leadership sides of stewarding Colorado watersheds, including by engaging more cultures and communities to find advocates for programs that effect change.

Both were engaging conference themes with the strong participation and exactly the kind of powerful interactions this annual gathering seeks to deliver.

“ I always learn so much at this conference. I would recommend to any level of knowledge because there is something to learn for everyone.”

“ I learned a ton, and the talks helped me regain some perspective and hope about the work being done to protect our water resources in CO.”

PARTICIPANTS EACH YEAR

ABOVE: Nora Flynn with the Colorado Water Conservation Board moderates a panel at the 2023 conference. | MIDDLE: Conference attendees engage with presenters during the 2023 conference. | BELOW: Ernest House, Ute Mountain Ute Tribal member, shared an inspiring keynote address at the 2023 conference.

OUR VOLUNTEERS

Jessica Alexander

Frank Alfone

Cary Aloia

Juliana Archuleta

Karlyn Armstrong

Jeni Arndt

Julie Ash

Billy Atkinson

Julia Barker

Peter Barkmann

Andy Baur

Julie Baxter

Mark Beardsley

Amy Beatie

Johannes Beeby

Laura Belanger

Barbara Biggs

Jeremy Bloom

Angela Boag

Brett Bovee

Daniel Boyes

Stephen Brackett

Travis Bray

Ken Brenner

Natalie Brower-Kirton

Jackie Brown

Paul Bruchez

Doug Bruchez

Abby Burk

Christina Burri

Mike Camblin

Anne Castle

Blongshia Cha

Sean Chambers

Liz Chandler

Kathy Chandler-Henry

Sonja Chavez

Elaine Chick

Ryan Christianson

Aaron Citron

Lorelei Cloud

Andrea Cole

Amy Conklin

Kevin Conrad

Nathan Coombs

Peter Coors

Marielle Cowdin

Sean Cronin

Halie Cunningham

Kathleen Curry

Water Education Colorado is a community effort. Between July 1, 2021-June 30, 2023, WEco benefited from the support of nearly 300 volunteers. These water leaders and concerned community members are crucial to making WEco’s programs a success and helping to create scalable, lasting impact in Colorado. We recognize and extend our gratitude to them here.

Stan Darveau

Casey Davenhill

Aaron Derwingson

Kelen Dowdy

Heather Dutton

Nathan Elder

Nick Emmendorfer

Kerri Ertel

Ron Falco

Paul Fanning

Greg Felt

Bo Felton

Jorge Figueroa

Raquel Flinker

Kayli Foulk

Travis Francis

Joe Frank

Maya Garcia

Rachel Garrett

Michelle Garrison

Mardi Gebhardt

Dan Gibbs

Jennifer Gimbel

Jack Goble

Breanna Gonzalez

David Graf

Tom Green

Kate Greenberg

Evie Guay

Ariel Hacker

Jim Hall

Lyn Halliday

Thomas Hankins

Mark Harris

Steve Harris

Todd Hartman

Fay Hartman

James Havey

Taylor Hawes

Celene Hawkins

Manuel Heart

James Heath

Penne Heede

Matt Heimerich

Callie Hendrickson

Quinn Hildebrandt

Talia Hofacker

Tim Holinka

Jennifer Holloway

Hannah Holm

Sheryl Horton

Laurie Householder

Keyerria Howard

Russ Howard

Emily Hunt

Bob Hurford

Wade Ingle

Dawn Jewell

Josephine Jones

Heather Justus

Paul Kehmeier

David Kelly

Zane Kessler

Rick Kienitz

Sania Killion

Melanie Kilpatrick

Holly Kirkpatrick

Kirk Klancke

Waverly Klaw

Aimee Konowal

Patrice Kroutel

Ron Kroutel

Eric Kuhn

Karen Kwon

Jojo La

Tony LaGreca

Cindy Lair

Brendon Langenhuizen

Eric Langley

Lain Leoniak

Andy Lerch

Justyn Liff

Erin Light

Matt Lindburg

Ronda Lobato

Rick Lofaro

April Long

Betsy Lopez

Judy Lopez

Scott Lorenz

Jay Loschert

Emily Lowell

Steve Lundt

Ken Lykens

Ryan Maecker

Jerry Mallett

Mark Marlowe

Simon Martinez

Anna Mauss

Kevin McAbee

Jenny McCarty

John McClow

Scott McElroy

Maura McGovern

Martin McGovern

Julie McKenna

Barbara McLachlan

Keith McLaughlin

Margaret Medellin

Emily Meek

Linda Mendez Barrientos

Sherry Meschko

Bart Miller

Lee Miller

Elena Miller-Ter Kuile

Erin Minks

Rebecca Mitchell

Kyle Monger

Doug Monger

Larry Morandi

Katherine Morris

Ed Moyer

Andy Mueller

Patrick Mueller

Molly Mugglestone

Brian Murphy

Madison Muxworthy

Dominique Naccarato

Jeremy Neustifter

Noah Newman

David Nickum

Mickey O’Hara

Ellen Olson

Daniel Omasta

Blake Osborn

Amy Ostdiek

Les Owen

Jill Ozarski

Amber Pacheco

Carrie Padgett

Jonathan Paklaian

Mark Palumbo

Jordan Parman

Anna Perea

Ian Philips

Stephanie Phippin

Issamar Pichardo

Craig Poley

Jared Polis

Steve Pope

Mary Presecan

Mike Preston

Mary Price

Andrew Primo

Mary Kay Provaznik

Bill Queen

Alyssa Quinn

Julieta Quinonez

Kathy Rall

Gretchen Rank

Mark Razum

Ron Redd

Teresia Reed

Klint Reedy

Emma Reesor

Kevin Reidy

Kevin Rein

Patricia Rettig

Gigi Richard

Holli Riebel

Jeffrey Rieker

Lauren Ris

Autumn Rivera

David Robbins

Ellen Roberts

Dylan Roberts

Craig Robinson

Kelly Roesch

Haley Rogers

Tom Romero

Geovanny Romero

Matthew Ross

Andy Rossi

Donny Roush

Nicole Rowan

Kate Ryan

Susan Ryan

Dale Ryden

Robert Sakata

Ron Sanchez

Russ Sands

Omar Sarabia

Rik Sargent

Andi Schaffner

Jennifer Scharpe

Alli Schuch

Nicole Seltzer

Mark Shea

Nona Shipman

Cleave Simpson

Travis Smith

Roy Smith

Travis Sondrol

Jeff Stahla

Julie Stahli

Patrick Stanko

Phil Strobel

Chris Sturm

Sue Swift-Miller

Kevin Terry

Jessica Thrasher

Edward Tolen

Weston Toll

Linda Towle

Luke Trout

Mike Trujillo

Jason Turner

Brad Udall

Jason Ullmann

Ryan Unterreiner

Anna Ursyn

Richard Van Gytenbeek

Alden Vanden Brink

Kathryn Venzor

Michael Vicenti

Esther Vincent

Mo Walsh

Alan Ward

Erik Wardle

Travis Warziniack

Amber Weber

Eric Weihenmayer

Kathryn Weismiller

Christina Welch

Jennifer Wellman

Reece Wells

Kyle Whitaker

Selwyn Whiteskunk

Mely Whiting

George Whitten

Erin Wilson

Kathryn Winograd

Scott Winter

Alison Witheridge

Ellen Wohl

Steve Wolff

Emily Zmak

OUR PEOPLE

Water Education Colorado is fortunate to have a dedicated and hard-working staff team, as well as the commitment of a volunteer board that provides guidance and support to make this work possible. We recognize them here.

STAFF 2022

Jayla Poppleton, Executive Director

Jennie Geurts, Operations Director

Suzy Hiskey, Administrative and Programs Assistant

Sami Miller, Membership and Engagement Officer

Caitlin Coleman, Publications and Digital Resources Managing Editor

Jerd Smith, Fresh Water News Editor

Stephanie Scott, Leadership Programs Manager

Scott Williamson, Education Programs Manager

Cailyn Andrews, K-12 Water Educator Liaison

Esther Malers, Communications and Media Intern

STAFF 2023

Jayla Poppleton, Executive Director

Sabrina White, Programs Director

John Carpenter, Operations Manager

Suzy Hiskey, Administrative and Programs Assistant

Geoff Harlan, Membership and Development Manager

Kendra Longworth, Membership and Engagement Officer

Caitlin Coleman, Publications and Digital Resources Managing Editor

Jerd Smith, Fresh Water News Editor

Scott Williamson, Education Programs Manager

Cailyn Andrews, Education and Outreach Coordinator

BOARD 2022 BOARD 2023

Lisa Darling President

Gregory J. Hobbs, Jr. Vice President

Cary Baird

Perry Cabot

Nick Colglazier

Sen. Kerry Donovan

Paul Fanning

Jorge Figueroa

Dulcinea Hanuschak

Eric Hecox

Matt Heimerich

Julie Kallenberger

David LaFrance

Brian Werner Secretary

Alan Matlosz Treasurer

Sara Leonard

Dan Luecke

Kevin McBride

Rep. Karen McCormick

Peter Ortego

Kelly Romero-Heaney

Elizabeth Schoder

Don Shawcroft

Laura Spann

Chris Treese

Lisa Darling President

Dulcinea Hanuschak Vice President

Cary Baird

Perry Cabot

Nick Colglazier

Paul Fanning

David Graf

Eric Hecox

Matt Heimerich

Julie Kallenberger

David LaFrance

Sara Leonard

Dan Luecke

Kevin McBride

Brian Werner Secretary

Alan Matlosz Treasurer

Rep. Karen McCormick

Leann Noga

Peter Ortego

Sen. Dylan Roberts

Kelly Romero-Heaney

Ana Ruiz

Elizabeth Schoder

Don Shawcroft

Laura Spann

Chris Treese

Katie Weeman

*Not all staff or board members listed were active through the duration of the year in which they are listed.

OUR MEMBERS & SUPPORTERS

With sincere gratitude, we recognize Water Education Colorado’s Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023 members and contributors, who make WEco’s work possible. (Contributions are recognized in sum for the period between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2023.)

($35,000+)

Chevron Corporation • Colorado Water Conservation Board • Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority • Mighty Arrow Family Foundation • Walton Family Foundation

($20,000+)

Colorado Media Project • Gates Family Foundation • Molson Coors Beverage Company • Special District Association of Colorado • South Metro Water Supply Authority • Southwestern Water Conservation District • The Water Desk at the University of Colorado Boulder

($10,000+)

Aurora Water • Colorado River District • Denver Water • Northern Water • Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Program • Pueblo Water

• Nick Ryan • SGM • Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District • Garrett Varra • Varra Companies, Inc. • Wana Brands

($5,000+)

AECOM • Alpine Bank • Amazon • Anonymous • Cheryl Benedict • Brown and Caldwell • Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP • CDPHE Water Quality Control Division • Central Colorado Water Conservancy District • City of Greeley Water and Sewer • City of Thornton • Colorado Golf Association • Colorado Springs Utilities • Colorado Water Center • HDR, Inc. • Jacobs • Jud McDonald • Olsson • Jayla & Bret Poppleton • Rio Grande Water Conservation District • Shea Properties • Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District • Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association • Ute Water Conservancy District • Ruth Wright • WSP USA Inc.

($2,000+)

Barr Lake & Milton Reservoir Watershed Association • Basalt Water Conservancy District • Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck • Corrin Campbell • Elizabeth Carter • City of Boulder • City of Fountain • City of Grand Junction • Cockrel Ela Glesne Greher & Ruhland PC • Steve Coffin • Colorado Riparian Association • Community Agriculture Alliance • CSU Spur • Fort Collins Utilities • Grand Valley Water Users Association • Barbara Hobbs • Kenneth King Foundation • Key To Life • Sania & Gideon Killion • Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District • LRE Water • Lynker Technologies • Meridian Metropolitan District • Northern Water Municipal Subdistrict • Parker Water & Sanitation District • Michael & Jennifer Preston • Republican River Water Conservation District • Roxborough Water and Sanitation District • San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District • SPWRAP • St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District • John Stulp • The Nature Conservancy • Town of Monument Public Works • Chris Treese • Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association • TruSource Consulting Group • University of Colorado Boulder • Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District • Brian Werner • Western Resource Advocates • Wright Water Engineers, Inc. • Vranesh and Raisch, LLP • Yampa/White/Green Basin Roundtable ($1,000+)

Alan Matlosz • Alyson Scott Law, LLC • American Rivers • Animas-La Plata Water Conservancy District • Applegate Group • Michael Assante • Audubon Rockies • Judy Bloom • Boulder County • Burns Figa & Will, P.C. • Carlson, Hammond and Paddock • Coalitions & Collaboratives, Inc • Colorado Corn Administrative Committee • Colorado Water Congress • CSU Water Resources Archive • Dolores Water Conservancy District • Dominion Water & Sanitation District • Evan Ela • Environmental Defense Fund • GEI Consultants • Kate Greenberg • Matt Grunder • Geoff Harlan • Eric Hecox • Matt Heimerich • High Line Canal Conservancy • Jim Knopf • Knopf Family Foundation • Kogovsek & Associates, Inc. • Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District • Mallon Lonnquist Morris & Watrous • Nathaniel Miullo • Mt. Werner Water • Otten Johnson Robinson Neff & Ragonetti PC • Mark & Cathy Pattridge • Pinery Water and Wastewater District • Mary Presecan • Gabe Racz •

River Science • Roaring Fork Conservancy • Rocky Mountain Farmers Union • Roggen Farmers’ Elevator Association • Sherman & Howard, LLC • Southwest Car Wash Association • SWCA Environmental Consultants • Gregg Ten Eyck • The Consolidated Mutual Water Company • The Greenway Foundation • This American Land • Tito’s Vodka • Dr. Daniel Tyler • United Water and Sanitation District • Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District • Water for Colorado • Weld County Farm Bureau • Kay Willson • Wilson Water Group

($500+)

Allison Altaras • Christine Arbogast • Colin Barnacle • BBA Water Consultants, Inc. • Tyler Benton • Barbara Biggs • Richard Bratton • Business for Water Stewardship • Carollo Engineers • Castle Rock Water Department • Centennial Water and Sanitation District • Center of Colorado Water Conservancy District • Jon Chambers • Sonja Chavez • City of Westminster Public Works and Utilities • Douglas Clark • CoBank • Colorado Golf Coalition • Colorado Livestock Association • Colorado Municipal League • Colorado Parks & Wildlife • Colorado Watershed Assembly • Community First Foundation • Conejos Water Conservancy District • Douglas County • DARCA • Lisa Darling • Tina Del Ponte • Delta County • Donala Water and Sanitation District • Doozy Solutions • Blaine Dwyer • Dynotek • Eagle County • John Ellis • Evans Group, LLC • Fairfield and Woods, PC • Paul Fanning • William & Sharon Farr • Forsgren Associates Inc. • Fort Morgan Reservoir & Irrigation Company • Valerie Gates • Jennifer Gimbel • Thomas Gougeon • Dulcinea Hanuschak • Headwaters River Journey and Center • Nancy Heaney • Hutchins Water Center at Colorado Mesa University • Julie Kallenberger • Julie Koehler • Danny Kramer • David LaFrance • Cynthia Lane • Gant Lee • Martin and Wood Water Consultants • John Maus • Maynes Bradford Shipps and Sheftel • Morgan County Quality Water District • Stephanie Neitzel • North Poudre Irrigation Company • North Sterling Irrigation District • One World One Water Center • Platte Canyon Water and Sanitation District • Family of John Porter • Pueblo West Metropolitan District • Howard Ramsdell • Realtors Land Institute - Colorado Chapter • Tom Reiners • Jacqueline Rhoades • Rio Grande Basin Roundtable • Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP • Rocky Mountain Agribusiness Association • Kelly Romero-Heaney • Greg Roush • San Juan Water Conservancy District • Bo Shaffer • Mike Shimmin • Patti Shwayder • Marielle Sidell • Claire Sollars • Somach Simmons & Dunn • Southwest Water and Property Law LLC • Stifel, Nicolaus & Company • Summit County • Jean Boyd Todd • Edward Tolen • Luis Tovar • Town of Castle Rock • Town of Frederick • Bill Trampe • Fabian VanCott • Water Information Program • Water Law Section of the Colorado Bar • WaterDM • Charles White • Eric Wilkinson • Michael Wilson • Steve Wolff • Joe Wood • Wright Family Foundation

($250+)

Tom Arnold • Garald Barber • Amy Beatie • Thomas Bruchmann • Bernie Buescher • James Butler • Peter Butler • Joan Card • Joseph & Tamara Casias • Aaron Citron • Bill Coleman • Kevin Collins • Tara Cox • Chris Dermody • Harold Evans • Alexander Funk • Michelle Godfrey • Mary Harbison • Harris Water Engineering, Inc. • Trina Hartman • Taylor Hawes • Headwaters Corporation • Gregg Hendry • High Country Hydrology, Inc. • Mike Hiskey • Kate & Jeff Hollenbach • Amy Huff • Steve & Carol Jeffers • Matt Jenkins • Heather Justus • Elizabeth Koehler • Will Koger • Sally Kribs • Don Langley • Kristin Lentz • Katie Leone • The Looney Family • Kathleen Lord • Stephen Loyd • Ken Lykens • Margaret A. Frank Fund - Chicago Community Foundation • John & Heidi McClow • Mark McCluskey • Jim McCotter • Lisa McVicker • Eve Woods McDonald • Larry Melton • Middle Park Water Conservancy District • Ann Mullins • John Nelson • Kendrick Neubecker • Gary Nuss • Nell Green Nylen • Peter Ortego • William Parzybok • Bob Peters • Sarah Pitts • Platte River Power Authority • Jerry Raisch • Anne Raup • Adam Reeves • Renew Strategies, LLC • Robert Rich • Jeff Richker • River Network • Tom Romero II • Kate Ryan • Elizabeth Schoder • David Schorr • Nicole Seltzer • Jordan Singer • Andrea Song • D. Randall Spydell • Laurel E. Stadjuhar • Jeff Stahla • Kristin Steele • Dr. Carol Sullivan • Pattie Swift • Maya ter Kuile-Miller • Rich Tocher • Jean Townsend • Jean Van Pelt • Richard Wagner • Michael Welsh • White Sands Water Engineers, Inc. • Jody L. Williams • Mary & Hal Williamson • Brad Wind • Dr. Kathryn & Leonard Winograd • Gerald Wischmeyer • Dick Wolfe • Kenneth Wright ($100+)

Tom Acre • Zach Ahlberg • Frank Anesi • Matthew Appelbaum • Ruth Ann Arany • Jeffrey Arthur • Laura Backus • William Badaracca • Dave & Lisa Bailey • David Bailey • Dianne Bailey • Debbie Baker • Mark Baker • Jeff Bandy • Andy Barnard • Vicky & Pat Barney • Tony Barrie • Dr. Joseph Barsugli • David Bates • Jacob Bauer • Margaret Bauer • Curtis Bauers • Stacy & Corey Beaugh • Drew Beckwith • Luke Bedell • Laura Belanger • Sharla Benjamin • Anne Bensard • Kevin Bergschneider • Jeff Berlin • David Berry • Mike Berry • Glen Black • Courtney Black • Amy Blackwell • Frank J. Blaha • Douglas Blaisdell • Eugene Blish • Bob Blodgett • Josh Boissevain • Gary Boldt • Jean Marie Boyer • Dave Bower • Caroline Bradford • Brandeberry - McKenna Public Affairs • Mark & Marcia Broderick • Norman Brooks • Marilyn Brown • Paul Bruchez • Lisa Buchanan • Mark Bush • Perry Cabot • Bill Caile • David Carlson • Deborah & Donald Carlson • Susan Carollo • Thomas Casadevall • Margaret Casart • Robert Case • William Cass • Chaney Chaney • Children’s Garden Montessori Board • Aaron Clay • Ted Collin • Colorado Bar Association

• Amy Conklin • Matt Cook • Jacquelyn Corday • Carrie Cordova • Craig Cotten • John Covert • Sean Cronin • Kelsey Crowe • Ken Curtis • Glenda DeBekker • Beverly Devore-Wedding • Reed Dils • Direct Discharge Consulting, LLC • Jessica DiToro • Sarah Dominick • Joelle Dozoretz • Jean Dubofsky • Marie Duplantis-Webb • Melissa Elliott • Patrick Emery • Joanne Fagan • Paul & Sylvia Fanning • George Farnsworth • Susan Festag • Michael Fink • Thomas Flanagan Jr. • Peter Fleming • Patricia Flood • Jack Flowers • Sierra Fox • Kirk Foyle • Richard Gabriel • Genia Gallagher • Jay Gallagher • Pam Gardiner • Alfred Gardner •

Nicole Garrimone-Campagna • John Gerstle • Dan Gibbs • Dala Giffin • Ashley Giles • Kellie Gorman • Noah Greenberg • Pete Gunderson • Scott Gygi • Trudy Gygi • Ariel Hacker • Margaret Hagenbuch • Hillary Hamann • Michael Hanemann • Wendy Hanophy • Paul Harms • Nancy Hauck • James Havey • Polly Hays • Roy E. Heald • Rebecca Heins • Carla Hendrickson • Mike Hennigan • Henrylyn Irrigation District • Mark & Sara Hermundstad • Christopher Hill • Jeannette Hillery • Lauren Hix • Jeffrey Hodge • Jim Hokit • Michael Holleran • Kent Holsinger • Holsinger Law • Barb Horn • Patricia Horoschak • Ryan Hostetler • Sarah Houghland • Bethany Howell • Terry Huffington • Scott Hummer • Emily Hunt • Holly Huyck • James Hyre • David Inouye • Don Ireland • Tanya Ishikawa • Julio Iturreria • Ryan Jarvis • Torie Jarvis • Dawn Jewell • Amy Johnson • Diane Johnson • Dave Kanzer • Trudy Kareus • Melinda Kassen • Ray Kauffman • Thomas Kelley • Russell Kemp • David Kienholz • Becky King • Sarah Klahn • Stan Kloberdanz • John Knapp • David Kracman • Chris Kraft • Sam J. Krage • Robert Krassa • Adam Kremers • Stephen Krest • Teresa Krieger • Ramsey Kropf • Rod Kuharich • Paul Lander • Birgit Landin • Mark Lapham • Donna Larson • Lisa Leben • Michael & Alison Lee • Cynthia Lefever • Mark Levorsen • Danna Liebert • Sean Lieske • Patricia Locke • Andrea Lopez • Chancy Love • Daniel Luecke • Jeff Lukas • Kim MacDonnell • Vic Makau • Steve Malers • Samuel Mamet • Jim Manire • Cheryl Manning • Zach Margolis • Lucy Marsh • Tim Mauck • Gretchen Maus • Bryan McCarty • Bill McCormick • Jan McCracken • Marc McCurry • Maura McGovern • Dennis McGrane • McGrane Water Engineering, LLC • Trina McGuire-Collier • Julie McKenna • Barbara McLachlan • Meeker Regional Library District • Joe Meigs • Jana Milford • Charles Minkler • Erin Minks • Elizabeth Minyard • James Mock • Robin Molliconi • Larry Morandi • Larry Morgan • Kristin Moseley • Madison Muxworthy • Dorothy J. Myers • Tyler Nading • David L. Nelson • Katy Neusteter • David Nickum • John Norton • Steve O’Dorisio • Laine O’Neal • John Orr • Toney Ott • Richard Parachini • Jeffrey Parrott • Jessica Pault-Atiase • Eric Perramond • Raymond Petros • Al Pfister • Stephanie Phippen • Jennifer Pitt • James Pokrandt • Nicole Poncelet-Johnson • The Family of John Porter • David Pusey • Gene Reetz • Melvin Rettig • Patricia Rettig • Ann Rhodes • Jane Rhodes • Richelle Riley • Vicki Ripp • Rocky Mountain Land Library • Tom Roode • Donny Roush Jr. • Susan Ryan • Rick Sackbauer • Joel Schaap • Wayne Schieldt • Thomas Schmugge • Alli Schuch • Andrew Schultheiss • Jody Schwindt • Aly Scott • Keith Scoular • Thomas R. Sharp • Courtney Shephard • Nona Shipman • Jack Sibold • Jim Siriano • MaryLou M. Smith • Travis Smith • Jeffrey Sneddon • Emily Snode-Brenneman • Laura Spann • Shannon Spurlock • Patrick Stanko • Stephanie Stanley • Pavlos Stavropoulos • Dr. Timothy Steele • Richard Stenzel • David Stewart • Michael Stiehl • Shawn Stigler • Ryan Stikeleather • Susan Stockmyer • Terrance Stokka • Kenneth Strom • Joshua Suter • Hannah Thill • Karlene Thomas • Kristin Tita • Andrew Todd • Mick Todd • Tri-County Water Conservancy District • Thomas Trout • Dale Trowbridge • Molly Young Trujillo • Howard Tuthill • Ryan Unterreiner • Wano Urbonas • Nathan Van Schaik • Wayne Vanderschuere • Tom Verquer • Robert Viehl • Robert Viscount • Shelley Walchak • Kurt Walker • Susan Walker • Robert Ward • Star Waring • Bob Weaver • David Wegner • Kathryn Weismiller • Cynthia Welsh • Davis Wert • Don West • Dr. John Wiener • Katie Wiktor • Holly Williams • Janet Williams • Leslie Williams • Tom Williamsen • Scott Williamson • Karen Wogsland • Tim Wohlgenant • Sensa Wolcott • Connie Woodhouse • John Wright • Kristin Yantis • Dr. Edith Zagona • Morton Zeppelin ($50+)

Lynn Albers • Beth Albrecht • Andrew Appell • Tom Arany • Christine Aslakson • Jacki Bakker • Orla Bannan • Erin Bartlett • Basalt Regional Library District • William Battaglin • Carol Beard • Stacy Beaugh • Ken Beegles • Rhlie Behr • David Bennett • Brandon Bernard • Christianne Blevins • Jennifer Bock • Gene Bradley • Rebecca Briesmoore • Marjorie L. Brooks • Tom Brossia • Emily Brumit • Perry Buck • Ellen Buckley • Megan Burke • Michael Calhoun • Logan Callihan • Kay Campbell • Lee Campbell • Randy Case • Thomas Cech • Charles Chamberlin • MaryAnna Clemons • Michael Cohen • Caitlin Coleman • Mary Gail Compton • Tim Craft • Erica Crosby • Allegra K. da Silva • Kay Davis • Madelaine R DeVan • Carol Ditchkus • Stephanie Dobbie • Janice B. Doran • Shellie Duplan • Wanda Edlund • Karie Erickson • David Farrell • David Ferry • Mendi Figueroa • Patrick Fitzgerald • J. R. Ford • Wendy Forselius • Angie Fowler • Timothy Friday • Jonathan George • Quinn Gerdes • Jordan Gillen • Daniel Gillham • Mike Glade • Joshua Godwin • Melanie Goetz • Lynn Hallam • Mindi Harman • Tanya Heikkila • Lauren Hevert • Patrick Hickey • Hannah Holm • William Hood • Leigh Horton • Sheryl Horton • Dan Huntington • Garrett Hyde • Matt Isgar • Lynn Johnson • Jonathon Kahn • Martha Karnopp & Jim Chaput • Gail Keeley • Kurt Keeley • Mike Kendrick • Leah Kintner • Steve Knepper • Lisa Knerr • Bob Kochevar • Thomas Korson • Maria Kramer • Josh Kuhn • Diana Lane • Marnie Lansdown • Carol Larsen • David Liberman • Marsha Looper • James Lovvorn • Ginger Lykens • Josina Makau • Jerry Mallett • Jo Manternach • Alicia Marrs • Simon Martinez • Peter Mayer • Kevin McCarty • Gordon McCurry • Gerald B. McDaniel • Charles McKay • Wayne Melanson • Damaris Methner • Ellie Miller • James (Jay) Montgomery • Jaime Moreno • Mae Morley • Phil Nelson • Lorraine Niemela • Leann Noga • James O’Donnell • Lynn O’Toole-Miller • Wayne Pandorf • Rica Pargas-Ficco • Ann Peppin • Jack Perrin • David Peters • Hensley Peterson • Patricia Peterson • Marsha Porter-Norton • Joel L. Price • Kira Puntenney-Desmond • Ray Quay • Lindsey Ratcliff • David A. Reinertsen • Judith Rice-Jones • Gigi Richard • Victor Ridder & Joan Braden • Lee Rimel • Marilee Rippy • Meredith Rose • Terri Roush • Ana Ruiz • Philip Russell • Brian Sauriol • Michael Sawyer • Rita Schmidt Sudman • Nick Schupbach • Craig Scott • Stephanie Scott • Kent Shaffer • Lisa Sigler • Diane Sipe • Jane Sliker • JoAnn Slivka • James Smith • Gregg Stults • Kristin Maharg Suarez • Deems Taylor • Maggie Thomas • Kristine Thompson • Jessica Thrasher • Alan Tipton • Alison Toivola • Harrison Topp • Joe Trungale • Emily Van Houweling • Deborah Wagner • Jan Walker • Weld County Underground Water Users Association • Bruce Whitehead • Nancy Wilkins • Tyson Williams • Lois Witte • Richard Wojciechowski • Bob Wolff • Will Yates • Judith Zepelin

OUR FINANCIALS

FUTURE FOCUS

Together, we can continue the mission to ensure Coloradans are informed on water issues and equipped to make decisions that guide our state to a sustainable water future. Water issues can be both complex and polarizing, making it more important than ever that we bring together diverse perspectives, build bridges of understanding among sectors, and provide valuable reporting, training and resources for all Coloradans.

Join WEco as a member or donate online at any time by visiting wateredco.org. Consider sponsoring a program, making a major gift, donating appreciated stock, or including WEco in your estate plan.

Thank you for your partnership and support!

On the cover: The 2023 Yampa-White-Green Basin Tour featured a stop overlooking Fish Creek Falls with a discussion of wildfire and forest health.