All are invited to join Montrose County, the Colorado River District and Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association for the sixth-annual West Slope Water Summit, held on Nov. 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Montrose County Event Center, located at 1036 North 7th St. in Montrose.
Doors for the summit open at 8 a.m.
The West Slope Water Summit is a free event and includes lunch, though registration is required.
"This year's West Slope Water Summit promises to be a valuable learning experience for anyone interested in the future of our most precious resource," Montrose County Commissioner Sue Hansen said in a news release. "By exploring the past, present and future of water in our area, we can gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities we face.”
Hansen said she was especially excited for Robert Sakata's presentation on the future of water and agriculture in Colorado.
“Our area and economy benefit greatly from agriculture,” she said. “I am glad we are adding ag into the water discussion, because you can't talk about one without the other. I encourage everyone to register and join us for a day of informative presentations and discussions."
The main speakers this year, in addition to Sakata, include Andy Mueller of the Colorado River District, Brody Wilson with a historical picture of the Gunnison Tunnel, and Becky Mitchell of the Colorado Water Conservation Board discussing negotiating for water.
A livestream of the West Slope Water Summit will be available at westslopewatersummit.com. Lunch is provided for those attending in person with an RSVP. Attendees can register online at https://www.montrosecounty.net/FormCenter/West-Slope-Water-Summit-11/2024-West-Slope-Water-Summit-62 or call 970-964-8701.
Local water information and resources are available online at https://westslopewaterinfo.com/.
West End community leader Aimee Tooker, of Nucla, told the Forum she will be attending the Montrose meeting on behalf of herself, plus the Colorado Cooperative Company (the local ditch board) and the Southwest Basin Roundtable. She said she will not be presenting, but listening to the conversations taking place in order to learn. She said she absolutely recommends that others attend the West Slope Water Summit.
And, she encourages that people attend the Water Law in a Nutshell class in Norwood too. The Norwood class takes place Oct. 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lone Cone Library. Realtors, assessors and attorneys are eligible to receive CEUs for their professional licenses. Though, landowners, teachers, water board members and others are welcome to attend the session.
Topics in the Norwood water meeting include water rights and ditch rights as applied in Colorado, but also specifically appropriation, perfection, use, limitations, attributes, abandonment and enforcement of various types of water rights. Additional subject matter will include special rules for groundwater, public rights in appropriated water, interstate compacts, and more.
Cost for the Norwood class is $125 and includes a lunch, plus materials. For those seeking CEUs, it’s $160. The Norwood class is produced by the Water Information Program, and Aaron Clay, who is an attorney and former water referee in Colorado Water Court, will be the presenter.
"Our lives and livelihoods depend on water," Tooker said. "Managing and conserving for future generations of our community is of utmost importance to all of us. Allocations and efficiency in the lower basin of the Colorado River is an important part of that equation not just for us, but for the tribes as well. I intend to learn all I can to help shape the decisions for southwest Colorado."
