Colorado Water Feb 2006

• Year: 2006
• Title: Colorado Water
• Author: Water Center of Colorado State University
• Description: February 2006 Issue
• Publications - Doc Type: Newsletter

the tools. For instance, for the first year or so, we
concentrated on specifying what the problem was
and what the needs were. After clearly identify-
ing the problem, we took advantage of university
research, either funded by CWRRI or others, and
merged our knowledge with the existing research
in order to come up with a set of strategies to
solve the problem. As a result, we developed a
number of tools, and these tools have been adapt-
ed over the years to meet the changing needs.
The key to the process is that it is dynamic. I
firmly believe that in order for us, the university,
to develop a rapport with the water users and
tools that are dynamic, the research process needs
to be dynamic also. I don't believe that in this age
of rapid change we can rely on tools that are static
to solve all emerging problems. It is essential that
the process of model development be dynamic
over the long -term. Ten years on, the South Platte
project continues to change.
Over the last couple of years, as some objectors
to the water augmentation plans have voiced dif-
ferent issues, we were able to use our dynamic
process to evaluate how tools might address those
issues. As a result, some of the issues that were
brought up were able to be resolved reasonably
quickly. This wouldn't have been possible had we
had a static system.
The dynamic process allows us to take advantage
of a resource that the university has in human
capital -- the students. I think Kurt mentioned that
he has three students working on his project. As
a result of our process, we have several students
that are or have worked on our project. This pro-
vides an opportunity for the water community to
take advantage of required research conducted by
graduate students in pursuit of degrees.
What I've realized is that in the long run, any
process that will succeed needs to take into ac-
count the fact that it takes time -- often several
years -- to get to the point where everybody trusts
the process and everybody communicates. There-
fore, if we can put in place processes emphasiz-
ing adaptability and communication now, we can
react in a timelier manner to any eventual crisis.
A good example of this is how all the work that
was done prior to the recent drought allowed us
to meet the needs brought about by the drought
fairly quickly. I think that the water community
and the university can come together in working
groups that have good communication and trust,
and that this coordination can provide us with a
dynamic process that will enable us to deal with
new issues or challenges as they develop.
1711 High Altitude Revegetation Workshop
March 7 -9, 2006
Fort Collins, CO
Register at www.conferences.colostate.edu /register
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