Basin roundtables create a space for water users to collaborate and commune.
Nine basin roundtables represent each of Colorado’s major river basins and the Denver metropolitan
area. On each roundtable, water users representing various interests come together to make decisions about water policy, priorities and funding. Map courtesy of Colorado Water Conservation Board
How does this sound: Discussions on water management issues, as well as locally driven collaborative solutions to water supply challenges. Important?
The Colorado legislature thought so. That’s why in 2005, they passed the Colorado Water for the 21st Century Act, which established a few stakeholder groups,including nine permanent basin roundtables across the state to do just that.
They’re, by statute, designed to represent various interests, broadening the range of stakeholders who have a voice in Colorado’s water decisions. They are geographically oriented in each of the state’s eight major
river basins and the Denver metropolitan area. While anyone is welcome to attend and participate, there are formal seats established by legislation.
For each roundtable, volunteer members serve for five-year terms. The group includes an appointee from each city and county, a municipal appointment, a member from each water conservation/conservancy district and one legislatively appointed seat. There are also 10 at-large members appointed by the roundtable to represent environmental, agricultural, recreational and industrial users, as well as domestic water providers. Additionally, each roundtable includes three established non-voting members representing entities who own water within the basin but live outside of it, as well as a
governor-appointed non-voting Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) director.
Confused? The CWCB offers a new guide to explain the roles of the agency, the roundtables and others. Find it at engagecwcb.org/cwcb-guide.
THE WORK OF THE BASIN ROUNDTABLES TODAY
Jose Valdez plants watermelon seedlings on farmland in Rocky Ford, Colorado, in the Arkansas River Basin. Photo by Mark Reis, Colorado Sun
Basin roundtable members come together regularly to discuss and make decisions about water policy, grant and loan funding, priorities and more. Their work, in part, lies in this convening, where relationships and friendships have been forged and neighbors continue to learn about each others values.
“The roundtables create a space where different water users that are worried about water for their farm, stream or city can find common ground,” says CWCB’s regional water coordinator, Jeff Rodriguez. “Sharing those perspectives and building collaboration is the bedrock of tackling the state’s water
challenges,” he says.
While that relationship building is critical to the state’s water future, each basin roundtable also prioritizes projects to help meet water needs. The roundatbles recommend projects for funding through the CWCB’s Water Supply Reserve Fund (WSRF) Grants and Colorado Water Plan Grants. And each roundtable also conducts public education and outreach work.
Basin roundtables primarily operate locally, but they’re part of something bigger. Whether through local discussion, pushingforward thoughtful WSRF applications, community water education, or cross-basin discussions, basin roundtables help set a shared statewide vision for meeting Colorado’s water challenges. The roundtables contribute to the water plan by each completing a Basin Implementation Plan (BIP). These BIPs summarize regional challenges and strategies to overcome them, and ultimately feed into the Colorado Water Plan.
“Sharing … perspectives and building collaboration is the bedrock of tackling the state’s water challenges.” —Jeff Rodriguez, Colorado Water Conservation Board
“The basin roundtables play a critical role in shaping the Colorado Water Plan by bringing together a diverse set of voices from around the state to address regional water needs and solutions,” says CWCB Water Supply Planning Section Chief Russ Sands. “The collaboration from the roundtables brings local perspective to state discussions, but it also helps set the tone for the many local water policy discussions that play out
every day across Colorado communities.”
GET INVOLVED
You don’t have to be a member to attend a basin roundtable meeting. Anyone can show up and speak up!
A meeting schedule, including date, time, location and agenda is posted on the CWCB website. There, you will also find minutes and recordings from previous meetings. Or dig a little deeper, many of the roundtables have a website where you can find the same information on roundtable meetings, committee meetings, and contact information to learn more about the roundtables or inquire about getting involved.
Of course roundtables aren’t the only way to get involved and to learn about water decision making. In addition to basin roundtable meetings, check out water or irrigation district meetings, city council or county commission meetings, monthly Water Conditions Monitoring Committee meetings, or state CWCB board meetings, legislative hearings and committee meetings, and more.
Visit https://cwcb.colorado.gov/about-us/basin-roundtables to learn more.
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