​Entering its 25th year as one of the leading water events in Colorado, the Arkansas River Basin Water Forum is set for April 24 – 25, 2019 at the Pueblo Convention Center.

Beginning in 1995 in Pueblo, the Arkansas River Basin Water Forum was developed as a means to bring together the diverse water interests throughout the Basin and the state of Colorado to explain their views and engage in open dialogue about water issues in the Arkansas River Basin. Through this dialogue, each year the Water Forum seeks to create a greater understanding of Colorado water law, water use, and water conservation through a 2-day event complete with educational sessions, keynote speakers, presentations, scholarship program, special awards and more. The Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District board and staff has been involved with the Forum since the inception and continues to sit on the planning committee. UAWCD Consultant Ken Baker was the 2018 recipient of the Bob Appel award as well.
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In 2019, the Water Forum is celebrating its 25th anniversary, returning to Pueblo to commemorate this incredible milestone. Not many events last 25-years which attests to the outstanding quality and commitment to the annual Water Forum which welcomes over 200 people every year representing agricultural, municipal, industrial, environmental, recreational, and governmental interests.

The annual Water Forum generally alternates its location between the upper and lower basins, supported each year by an outstanding planning committee comprised of dedicated people who come together to sponsor and host the Arkansas River Basin Water Forum. In 2020 the Water Forum will return to Salida.
 
Over the years, through the annual Water Forums, a wider understanding of water issues has evolved and along with it the opportunity to find common ground. We invite you to get involved and to join the Arkansas River Basin Water Forum and the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District on April 24-25, 2019 in Pueblo at the Pueblo Convention Center. To learn more, visit: www.arbwf.org

While performing regular water management operations, the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District encountered a significant issue with Colorado Water Conservation Board staff.
The issue came to light when hydrologist Jord Gertson presented his water storage report during the district’s November meeting.

In 2017, the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District developed a comprehensive education plan to help us expand our outreach and education efforts. We, as your local water district, want to better engage the public through well-informed discourse regarding local water management and to offer educational programming and resources in the Upper Arkansas Basin. The Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District has served your communities for over 40 years andwe would like the opportunity to share with you what we have learned. We believe that education is the key to building successful projects for the future to effectively and efficiently manage our most precious resource - water. 

In the last year, following the development of our education plan, the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District has built various education programs to assist in the education on water-relatedtopics in the community. We now offer a monthly educational column in regional newspapers. It is there that we talk about new projects, essentialfunding sources, and potential solutions to our water challenges. We’ve also created educational literature available at our office for pick-up and hosted water education events throughout the area including documentaries and our annual Water Fest, a family-friendly water education event in Buena Vista and Salida. 
 
Most recently, we have launched a new educational website full of information.  We provide many resources on the site including a water resource data section where visitors may view information related to stream discharge, reservoir contents, water temperature, and weather conditions. We also have a comprehensive listing of links and resources, a blog where we will continue to feature news related to local water issues, and information regarding water administration and storage projects.
 
You may view our new website at www.uawcd.com
 
In 2019, the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District will continue to build upon our water education programs and opportunities. An understanding of water history, law, and administration are essential to developing solutions to our future water challenges. We strive to provide the groundwork for this type of water education, in turn, building a more informed community. If you have any questions or if there is something, you’d like to learn more about, please contact Chelsey at 719.539.5425 and let us know.

​We’d enjoy hearing from you.