Colorado Water Dec 2005

• Year: 2005
• Title: Colorado Water
• Author: Water Center of Colorado State University
• Description: December 2005 Issue
• Publications - Doc Type: Other

Ag Water Interests Convene the First Colorado Agricultural Water Summit
The Colorado Agricultural Water Summit was
held on November 4, 2005 at the Adams County
Fairgrounds in Brighton, Colorado. The Summit
was a one -day
facilitated pro-
cess designed to
engage Colorado
Ag water leaders
in identifying and
addressing key
water issues fac-
ing the industry.
The goal of the
Summit was to
initiate a process
for unifying and
strengthening
Ag's voice in wa-
ter management
and policy.
Key Colorado
agricultural orga-
nizations nomi-
nated and sent
120 delegates to
the Summit to
represent diverse
perspectives and
industry sectors.
These organiza-
tions included:
Colorado Asso-
ciation of Conser-
vation Districts,
Colorado Cat-
tleman's Asso-
ciation, Colorado
Corn Growers,
Colorado Farm
Bureau, Colorado
Grain and Feed
Association,
Colorado Green
ment of Agriculture, and Colorado State University.
The Summit was facilitated by MaryLou Smith of
Aqua Engineering, with assistance from a team of
Colorado State University (CSU)
Cooperative Extension faculty.
(Above) Mike Mitchell of Mitchell Farms in the San Luis
Valley (left) and Jim Reasoner of Central Colorado Water
Conservancy District (right) listen as Bob Sakata of
Sakata Farms reports the results of the group discussion.
(Below) Frank Jaeger of Parker Water and Sanitation,
David Robbins of Hill and Robbins, Representative Kath-
leen Curry, and Representative Diane Hoppe field ques-
Industry, Colorado Livestock Association, Colorado
Wheat Growers Association, Rocky Mountain Farmers
Union, Western Dairy Association, Colorado Depart-
The Summit delegates heard from
several speakers during the day
including Rick Brown of the Colo-
rado Water Conservation Board, Ag
Commissioner Don Ament, Divi-
sion of Natural Resources Director
Russ George, Frank Jaeger of Park-
er Water, David Robbins of Hill and
Robbins, Rep. Kathleen Curry and
Rep Diane Hoppe. These speakers
discussed the stresses on Ag water
supplies and the need for Ag to
look for creative solutions to help
maintain viable systems for those
who wish to continue farming and
ranching.
A series of questions were posed
to the delegates for discussion in
breakout groups and during the
general sessions. The questions
were designed to help the delegates
think through the challenges and
opportunities that Ag might face in
uniting around water issues. These
included:
• What are the interests Colorado
Agriculture wants to preserve in
any water negotiations or transac-
tions?
• What interests unite us and which
ones divide us when it comes to
water?
• How can Colorado Agriculture
unite to promote our interests in
regards to water?
• What solutions can we come up
with to reconcile the differences
which divide us from each other and from other users
of Colorado's water?
• What strategies or options can we organize ourselves
around?