The oice of the Colorado Water Conservation Community...

The official publication of Colorado WaterWisewaterwise

The Voice of the Colorado Water Conservation

Community

www.coloradowaterwise.org

In this issue...

The official publication of Colorado WaterWise Winter 2014Winter 2014waterwise

Pg. 9 Interview with Ray Tschillard

Pg. 13 Water Efficiency Workshop

Pg. 14 Interview with Gary Klein

Pg. 3 Colorado Water Live Like You Love It!

Water Education

Colorado WaterWise Ongoing MeetingsColorado WaterWise Board Meetings

Second Thursday of each month, 10 a.m.-noon

WaterWise is the official publication of Colorado WaterWise and is published four times a year (Mar, Jun, Sep, and Dec). Articles are due one month before the newsletter comes out.

Officers:Co-chairs: Lyle Whitney-Aurora & Frank Kinder-Colorado Springs Utilities

Co-secretaries Alyssa Quinn-Platte Canyon & Russ Sands-Boulder

Co-treasurers: Ruth Quade-Greeley & Dan Stellar-Center for ReSource Conservation

Project Manager: Brenda O’Brien

Board Directors:The officers above and Amy Conklin-Barr Lake; Becky Fedak-Brendle Group; Laura Wing-Thornton; Lindsay Weber-Denver Water; Lindsey Bashline-Loveland; Amelia Nuding-Western Resource Advocates; Leslie Martien-Aquacraft, Inc.; Nona Shipman-One World One Water; Lyndsey Lucia-Northern Water.

Newsletter Committee: Editors, Kim Frick, Leslie Martien, & Ruth Quade

Design: Rob Sherman

Advertising Sales: Ruth Quade, [email protected]

To submit a story topic, email Kim Frick at [email protected]

WaterWise articles may be reproduced in other publications with credit given to the author and Colorado WaterWise. Any advertisement of or reference to a product or service is not intended as an endorsement.

This newsletter is intended to spark dialogue about various issues concerning water conservation in Colorado. The viewpoints of the authors are not necessarily those of the Colorado WaterWise.

From the editors

Kim FrickRuth Quade

Leslie Martien

The theme for this issue is education. In these pages you will learn what is being done to educate the youth, teachers, the millennial generation, homeowners associations, the green industry, plumbers and maintenance people, the restaurant industry and of course the general public and our water customers. Find out what one ambitious homeowner did to save water at his townhouse complex and how using nonprofits can help you get your projects accomplished. There are a lot of exciting things happening in water conservation and Colorado WaterWise is proud to be a part of them.

Speaking of education, Colorado WaterWise had another successful Annual Conservation Summit in October. We wish to thank all of our loyal supporters of the event because without them we could not put on such valuable conference. Thanks, also, to all of our speakers and attendees – together we are making headway in Colorado water conservation.

As many of you know, Colorado WaterWise has been able to present two new products this year —a smart phone app and the Value of Water Toolkit which is now Colorado Water – Live Like You Love It! The smart phone app will provide green industry contractors with the ability to retrieve all water utilities’ rules and regulations. To become a sponsor of the app please contact Brenda O’Brien [email protected] . Phase I of the Live Like You Love It project has been completed and Colorado WaterWise is ready to start Phase II. Go to http://coloradowaterwise.org to view the video and find out how to get access to the toolkit. Make sure you follow us on Facebook (lovecoloradowater) and Twitter @LoveCOWater.

WaterWise Spring 20113

Lindsey Bashline, Loveland Water and Power

There’s a special ingredient in Colorado water – SNOW! In fact, up to 90% of the West’s water starts as snowfall. It fluffs our skis, rocks our rafts and fuels our lives. Though seemingly abundant, we only have a finite amount of fresh water in Colorado. But the real question is, do you Live Like You Love It?

Colorado Water: Live Like You Love It is a new statewide water message that was released at the 2014 Annual Water Conservation Summit hosted by Colorado WaterWise in October. The messaging and educational toolkit provides communication tools for water stakeholders who communicate the importance of water, water conservation and water quality. The toolkit collateral includes social media graphics and copy, tip sheets, web and print advertisements, a video, presentation templates and a communications guide.

Through a series of stakeholder meetings, Colorado WaterWise recognized the critical importance of educating the public about the value of water they use. Sponsors for the development of the toolkit included Loveland Water and Power, the City of Greeley water conservation program, Colorado Springs Utilities, Northern Water, One World One Water, City of Fountain, Pueblo Board of Water Works and Western Resource Advocates. Colorado WaterWise retained Sigler Communications, Inc., a Denver-based strategic communications firm with water expertise, to develop components of the toolkit and a communications plan. Additionally, Colorado WaterWise tasked the firm with developing a “brand” for the toolkit including a name, slogan and logo. After four long years, the toolkit became a reality.

“With the state of Colorado embarking upon creating its first water plan, we believe that the findings will undoubtedly be that there is a need for more education in our state about the value of our water,” said Alyssa Quinn, the Colorado WaterWise committee chair.

One of the major catalysts of the project was the realization that large portions of the general public, specifically young adults in the millennial generation, lack vital information about how we get our water and the scarcity of the resource. As a headwaters state, Colorado water is a topic of great discussion among the 18 states who receive water from the Centennial state. Colorado is the only state other than Hawaii where water flows out of its borders but doesn’t flow in. With the Colorado

“Colorado Water: Live Like You Love It”: A New Statewide Water Message

Winter 2014

WaterWise Spring 20114 Winter 2014

ONE WORLD ONE WATER C E N T E R

MSU DENVER

population expected to double by 2050, the need to Live Like You Love It is more important than ever. The toolkit uses the positive emotional connection people have to their water to send the message. Here are ways that people can show love to Colorado water:

Conserve - Conserving water and using water efficiently must be our way of life, not just a response to drought. Everyone who uses water—including farmers, consumers, businesses and recreators—has a responsibility to use water efficiently. Small changes in our daily lives can lead to significant savings.

Care - Because we live in the state where water originates, Coloradans enjoy some of the best water in the country. Let’s keep it that way. Whatever you put on your lawn, driveway or park can end up in your water supply. Simple measures like picking up after pets, and using pesticides and fertilizers sparingly help our water quality.

Commit - Compared to other expenses—mobile phones, internet, cable television, food—water is a pretty good deal. Most consumers only pay around a half of a penny per gallon for the water coming out of their tap. However, aging infrastructure, rising energy costs, climate change and the need for new water projects to meet a growing population will all contribute to the increasing cost of water. As demand for water increases, solutions to complex water issues will need to be crafted.

By utilizing the professionally created tools available in the toolkit, water organizations and other interested stakeholders can easily spread the word about protecting this finite resource, doing our part to conserve and committing to learning about water issues. Collateral available in the toolkit can be co-branded and is designed to be Colorado specific from the tips to the rainbow trout in the graphics.

Organizations must agree to a financial sponsorship and become a project partner of Colorado WaterWise to gain access to the toolkit, logo and other components. Members and project partners will have access to a password-protected area of the Colorado WaterWise website to download materials.

To join the movement and Live Like You Love It, like Love Colorado Water on Facebook or follow it on Twitter at @LoveCOWater. To find out more about the toolkit and sponsorship, visit Colorado WaterWise at coloradowaterwise.org.

WaterWise Spring 20115 Winter 2014


How Does Your Water Use Compare? If You Lived in Greeley, You Would Know!

By Christina S. Wong, WaterSmartSoftware

The City of Greeley continues to be a leader in reducing its water demand by increasing resident engagement and education. In order to address growing demand, Greeley aims to reduce its water consumption 9.3% through conservation activities from 2015 to 2035. Water demand in Greeley is expected to increase 2.6% annually over the next decade with residential use accounting for approximately 62% of total water demand. To help address this growing residential demand, Greeley became the first city in Colorado to use an innovative WaterSmart Program from WaterSmart Software.

WaterSmart Software is the leading water efficiency solution platform that provides robust water use analytics to utilities while also providing residents with customized messages and water-saving recommendations tailored to them. Residents receive home-water reports that provide them with detailed information on where and how much water they use. The reports shows how actual usage compared with that of neighbors with homes of similar attributes including lot size and number of occupants. Residents are also directly connected to rebate programs that address the specific needs of each household.

WaterSmart has been so successful in Greeley that two other Colorado cities, Fort Collins and Brighton, have also adopted the software. Through the use of WaterSmart, Greeley has already saved over 13.2 acre-feet of water in one year, which is approximately 9% of the City’s yearly conservation goal. Additionally, those who received WaterSmart reports were more in compliance with the City’s water budget and were more engaged with Greeley through the City’s social media outlets. Greeley has over 1,600 followers on Twitter and Facebook, as well as an active newsletter and YouTube channel, all of which help residents learn about water conservation and engage community members with fun and informative messaging. The latest product offerings from WaterSmart complement Greeley’s social media successes: the mobile product allows residents to post their water-saving actions directly on Facebook, and the email version of the Home Water Report offers direct links to Greeley’s Twitter and Facebook pages.

Greeley also uses social media to connect residents to an extensive list of rebate opportunities. In particular, the Showerhead Exchange Program is a popular rebate program in which residents can exchange their old showerhead for a new, efficient, ‘EPA WaterSense’ certified showerhead for free. The program has already been successful, but leveraging the WaterSmart Home Water Reports to directly connect those in need with the rebate program, Greeley has doubled the participation levels in the program. Further successes from Greeley’s efforts are presented in the City’s 2014 Conservation Plan.

Winter 2014


Using Water Like You Love ItBy Becky Garber, Association of Landscape Contractors of Colorado

Kudos from the landscape industry to Colorado WaterWise for your new program: “Water – Live Like You Love It!”

We need to live more like we love our water because we’re realizing more and more how much we need to protect it. Now is that day when the words of famous oil man T. Boone Pickens are ringing true: “Water is the new oil.”

Our homes and landscapes are an important place to conserve because they are the one place under our direct control. Every day we either waste or love our water by the choices we make. We in the landscape industry want our customers to love their landscapes by loving the water they need - and conserving water they don’t need - one drop at a time.

In and around our cities, everything that is not a building or pavement is the natural environment we call “landscaping.” It’s an ecosystem that cleans the air of auto emissions, shades and cools our buildings and sets the scene for recreation and relaxation. This urban ecosystem nurtures our lives even though we often take it for granted.

Using water like you love it happens when we choose to be responsible about this precious resource and our landscapes. Within the landscape industry we are committed to helping educate the people we touch – the home and business property owners – who rely on us to design, install and maintain their yards. Every step in this process can be done sustainably to use water like we love it – or not.

Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC) offers technical training and industry certifications to help those within our industry be more responsible in every aspect of managing water. We also offer resources for

property owners to become better stewards of the outdoor water under their control. ALCC recently created a Facebook page Landscape Colorado [https://www.facebook.com/LandscapeinColorado] where we share timely landscape tips that can help property owners care for their yards in a water-conserving way. You will see before/after photos of yards, find a water-saving tip that has to do with your garbage disposal, learn where to recycle campaign signs – or how to access the hardware store’s coupon for leaf recycling bags. There are many ways to be sustainable outdoors and we promote them.

Our association also created the Sustainable Landscape Partners Program [link: http://www.alcc.com/sustainable-practices] as a link to companies that are highly committed to “going green” throughout their operations. For some companies, sustainability involves converting gas powered lawn mowers to propane. For others, recycling pruning and other debris is high in their program. But for all, conserving water is at the core of what they do. They help customers know more about plants that aren’t so thirsty and design sprinkler systems that are water efficient. Their goal is to create landscapes that are beautiful, healthy and productive over the long term and that use less water in the process.

Colorado WaterWise, you’re on to something when you tell us to use water like we love it because we, too, love nurturing landscapes that save water. We’ll be helping spread the word.

For more information on ALCC www.alcc.com

Winter 2014


Pre-Rinse Spray Valves – Big Water Savings Bang for Your Buck

Nearly 1/3 of all water use in commercial kitchens is from pre-rinse spray valves (EPA WaterSense PRSV Fact Sheet). Pre-rinse spray valves (PRSVs) are powerful spray tools used to rinse dishes of food and debris before being placed into a dishwasher. WaterSense created a label for PRSVs, ensuring that there are models available that are not only efficient, but also third-party certified to meet industry-accepted performance standards. Here in Colorado, several communities have already instigated direct install programs, moving the commercial kitchen industry faster toward water efficiency. The City of Lafayette, with its Rinse & Save Program, is one of those communities. Through a Colorado Water Conservation Board grant and implementation support from the Center for ReSource Conservation (CRC), the City of Lafayette has successfully installed 29 high-efficiency PRSVs at local restaurants, bars and school cafeterias.

The Rinse & Save program was designed to use a minimum amount of marketing, with a single direct mailing to the targeted businesses stating a time frame during which they should expect a visit from a CRC water technician. Following the mailing, CRC’s water technician went door-to-door, offering the free 1.07 gpm (gallon per minute) PRSV and direct installation. Once at the business, the water technician simply offered to install the PRSV right then and there, giving the business the immediate opportunity to receive the device for free. In order to ensure that the business would not be receiving a reduction in efficiency, the technician would test the current PRSV’s flow rate prior to installing the new PRSV. One of the findings from the program was that approximately 10 percent of the businesses in Lafayette already had high-efficiency PRSVs with flow rates equal to or better than the one being offered by the program. This indicates that some businesses have already begun adopting high-efficiency technology; however a significant majority in this community still had the potential for improvement.

Measuring the impact of the program will be the next step for the City of Lafayette. For their grant they estimated that each high-efficiency PRSV, by replacing a standard 1.6 gpm PRSV, would save approximately 20,670 gallons annually. In total, therefore, Lafayette would expect approximately 600,000 gallons of water saved annually from the 29 installations or nearly 2 AF of water. The analysis of each business’s water records from before and after the installation is under way, and final results will require another few months of data in order to measure any change. Because PRSVs often use hot water, this program has significant energy savings as well. The EPA estimates that replacing a single PRSV will save a business $50-$175 a year just in energy cost savings alone (EPA WaterSense PRSV Fact Sheet). Follow-up surveys of the participating businesses found that, on average, the businesses gave a 4.1 out of 5 rating to their satisfaction with the high-efficiency PRSV. When asked to rate the performance of the new PRSV compared to their old PRSV, they rated it a 4.2 out of 5, suggesting that the new PRSV was somewhat better than their old model. And while no businesses responded that they had noticed water savings, they also gave an average rating of 4.2 when asked about the value of the free PRSV to their business. Overall this program has the potential to deliver significant water savings with minimal outreach and marketing. CRC is excited to be offering this program to all interested Colorado water providers in 2015. Please contact the program manager, Morgan Shimabuku ([email protected]) for more information.

By Morgan Shimabuku, Center for ReSource Conservation

Winter 2014


Ray Tschillard

interview

An interview with

WW: Tell us a little about yourself.

I was raised along the banks of the Mississippi River with a wonderful family of two brothers and two sisters with names that all rhyme. Currently, I am in my 10th year as Director of the Poudre Learning Center (PLC), and President of the PLC Board of Directors. Before PLC, I worked with the Biological Science Curriculum Study in Colorado Springs focusing on the reformation of science education through the selection and implementation of inquiry-based instructional materials in school districts nationwide.

WW: How did you get started in the education/ science field?

It could have been when, as a boy, along with my Dad and brothers, I explored the rivers and woods of Eastern Iowa. Or maybe when we would canoe on the Mississippi. Then again, the tiniest beginnings may have been when, with my brand new Earth Science degree and an undying interest in water and rivers, I moved to Colorado.

After spending all my life in Iowa I began to search for a new job. There in the Denver Post, side by side, were two ads, one for a geologist and one for a teacher at University Lab School. It was one of those two-roads-diverged moments. I thought I was going to be a geologist. What I selected instead was to help make a difference to more students, teachers and people who love learning than I may ever be able to calculate.

The dream for an interdisciplinary education center for all ages took shape during years of teaching and field trips to the Poudre River. I took a group of kids out to the river once, explained all about the geology, and spent all day. At the end, I asked, ‘What do you see?’ One of the guys looked around and said, ‘This is just a pretty place.’ You can’t forget that. You have to look at all the systems and how they interact to form the river and aesthetics should also be included in that picture.

Winter 2014


Interview with Ray Tschillard

“Greeley and the surrounding communities have made a commitment to get away from nature being extracurricular, and pledge to move toward making it essential with its support of the PLC. Getting outdoors is just part of who we are in Greeley and is a legacy we will pass on to the next generation.“

WW: Regarding water, what do you feel are the biggest challenges facing Colorado?

Water shortages, partly due to climate change, the tension between agriculture and development, and the urbanization of the Front Range are among the biggest water challenges Northern Colorado faces today. Water shortages mean that it’s not predictable that farmers will win in a water battle between agriculture and urban consumption. If we continue to be thoughtful about our usage we can probably make do with a lot less water. Specifically in our region one of the most critical issues is the health of the Poudre River watershed. We must continue to move forward with river protection and restoration. Water has always been an important factor in the health of any community and its ability to survive and thrive. With the recent projections showing water use in Colorado likely to double by 2050, it is even more imperative that our citizens understand the role of water in their lives. The PLC’s programs will help shape a community of informed, thoughtful users of this valuable resource. As students learn about the role of water and its many uses, they will be encouraged to employ wise use in their own lives. This, in turn, shapes them into citizens empowered to understand how they impact the world around them and make knowledgeable decisions regarding how they live.

WW: Where do you think Colorado is headed in education and natural resources?

Colorado is implementing significant science education improvements aimed at ensuring all students are on pathways to college and / or are career-ready. Our expectations are being raised for our K-12 students to build understandings of the big conceptual picture and be able to use 21st century process skills solving problems and overcoming challenges

WW: What technologies do you think will have the biggest impact on the future in Colorado?

The technologies which help drive our kids indoors will assist them in exploring and communicating with the outdoors. Children will use microelectronics to find out more ways to interact with nature. Families will interconnect with the outdoors by collecting bugs, following animal tracks and stargazing with new exciting e-tools. E-experiencing new smells, sounds, sights, textures and terrains will actually promote citizenship and stewardship for local ecosystems. Instead of driving kids indoor, technology will stimulate children’s own natural curiosity about their world. These repeated “plugging into nature” experiences and varied opportunities with will raise appreciation and values of nature to new heights. More children and their families will take the virtual world of computers outside as they explore a neighboring stream or nearby natural prairie grass trail.

WW: What has given you the most satisfaction during your career?

I often think of the Margaret Mead quote when I reflect on how our communities came together to build the PLC; “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Winter 2014


The Poudre Learning Center has truly been a successful collaborative effort in Weld County. The cooperative effort came from a multitude of organizations and interested residents. The Eaton, Greeley-Evans, Johnston-Milliken and Windsor-Severance School Districts, the Poudre River Trail Education Committee, the University of Northern Colorado, Weld County, the City of Greeley, Central Colorado Water Conservancy District, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Centennial, Greeley, Redeye and Windsor Rotary Clubs and George, Betty & Bret Hall of Hall-Irwin Corporation have all taken a special interest in developing the Poudre Learning Center.

Last year over 15,000 students came and experienced the PLC. The PLC staff, UNC Interns and volunteers were able to outreach to an additional 16,000 people at sites around Weld and Larimer Counties

This community effort received worldwide recognition in January 2007, when Bill Boyd, a New Zealander and President of Rotary International, selected the PLC as model community project to tour during his visit of the western United States.

Indeed, I believe this collaborative effort to build and sustain a regional interdisciplinary educational center connecting the school districts and communities of Greeley, Evans, Eaton, Johnstown, Milliken, Severance and Windsor to the riparian areas along the Poudre River have been an overwhelming success. We are very proud in our part in making the Center one of the premier outdoor educational facilities in Northern Colorado with over 15,000 K-12 students visiting the 65-acre site annually.

WW: Any last thoughts you’d like to share with our readers?

Greeley and the surrounding communities have made a commitment to get away from nature being extracurricular, and pledge to move toward making it essential with its support of the PLC. Getting outdoors is just part of who we are in Greeley and is a legacy we will pass on to the next generation.

Winter 2014

Ray showing the sign made of local rocks demonstrating the soil profile of the region.


Caring for our Watersheds- COLORADO

Each fall area high school students, interested in the air they breathe, the water they drink and the land they live, on join together for the Caring for our WatershedsTM program challenge to think about their local Cache la Poudre and Big Thompson River watersheds and how they can protect these most essential environmental assets. The students research their local watershed, identify an environmental concern, and develop a potential solution. Caring for our Watersheds- COLORADO is made possible locally with support from Agrium Advanced Technologies, Poudre Learning Center, Central Colorado Water Conservancy District and the City of Greeley Water & Sewer Department. Through the years students have provided viable answers to the question— “What can you do to improve your watershed?” It is apparent by their efforts how much future generations care about watersheds, their world and their place in it.

Each year around 200 students from high schools in Greeley, Fort Collins, Eaton, Johnstown, Loveland and Berthoud entered the contest, writing 1,000 word essays explaining their research on the Cache la Poudre or the Big Thompson watersheds, describing the environmental issues and their proposed solutions, and outlining implementation budgets for their ideas. Students compete for $6,000 in cash awards and participating schools are eligible for $8,000 in cash awards. In addition, Agrium has made $10,000 available to help students implement their ideas this spring. The creativity this contest affords students is beneficial for our environment and the communities we serve. Anytime we can engage and involve our younger generation in environmental conversation it benefits us all. They are actively seeking ways to make our communities sustainable for upcoming generations and we are here to help them.

One of the past winners was Ivonne Morales, presently a University of Colorado Environmental Studies major and former Greeley Central student. Ivonnes’s proposal was the 2013 CFW 2nd place finisher. Ivonne’s idea was selected to be implemented internationally at all twelve Caring for our WatershedTM sites across the globe! The success of CFW relies on teachers, students and community volunteers. If you would like to be involved please visit www.CaringForOurWatersheds.com.

Ray Tschillard, Poudre Learning Center

Winter 2014

Brother & sister team Danny and Manny Araujo were the top winners in the 2013 contest. Their project bought reusable grocery bags and did educational presentations about plastic bags to their students, faculty, parents and community.


Water Efficiency Workshop for Colorado Plumbing: Update

In the last newsletter, we wrote a brief article about the Water Efficiency Workshop for Colorado Plumbing that was due to happen this fall. These workshops have come and gone, and we’re pleased to report they were a great success. We had about 75 participants total between the three events, which were held in Denver, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins. Each workshop was a half-day event, and featured brief presentations on the latest topics in Colorado water efficiency, such as the WaterSense legislation that passed this year, the latest on graywater regulations, and high-performance construction like WaterSense New Homes. The day ended with a hands-on workshop/demo about how plumbing systems work in a home, and how to maximize energy and water efficiency in the plumbing design while guaranteeing comfort. This effort would not have been possible without the many partnerships that were developed between Colorado WaterWise, Western Resource Advocates, Colorado Springs Utilities, City of Fort Collins Utilities, and the PHCC (Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors) Association. If you are interested in learning more about these topics or other types of classes, please email us at [email protected] and [email protected].

By Amelia Nuding, Western Resource Advocates and Frank Kinder, Colorado Springs

Winter 2014


By Frank Kinder, Colorado Springs Utilities

Background: CWW’s recent Water Efficiency Workshops featured noted hot water demand expert Gary Klein of Sacramento, CA. Gary’s hands-on demonstration helps participants visualize different amounts of water used in piping systems and understand how long hot water travels. Gary contributes to building efficiency designs and regulations such as code updates, Federal executive orders, and EPA WaterSense specifications.

WW: Tell us a little about yourself.

I have been intimately involved in the field of efficient water and energy use since 1974. I was born in Connecticut, went to college at Cornell University, spent 7 years in Lesotho, retired from the California Energy Commission in 2008 and now run my own consulting firm. I met my wife in 1979 while in Lesotho and have been married since 1980. We have four children and are raising our grandson.

WW: How did you get started in the hot water business?

While an undergraduate at Cornell University in 1974, I wrote a proposal to study, as my major, Technology and Society with an emphasis on Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy. The proposal was accepted and I have been in the field ever since.

WW: Regarding water conservation, what do you feel are the biggest challenges facing Colorado?

Getting the matter in the space between our ears to adopt new ways of thinking. To paraphrase: thinking the way we think got us to where we are today. If we are satisfied with where we are, then no problem. If not, then it will take new thinking to get us to a different future.

To be specific, I think that we need to review our current infrastructure to assess its resilience to large variations in flow. We need to plan all new infrastructure and modifications to current infrastructure with these principles of resilience in mind. These principles apply to the water supply and wastewater treatment systems and to the plumbing within our buildings.

GaryKlein

an interview with

interview

Winter 2014


Our water infrastructure is generally designed to handle some level of peak event. We are likely to see higher peaks than originally planned for. We are also likely to see lower lows. Peak water flows in a household happen approximately one minute a day. The most normal condition for water use in most buildings is off, roughly 23 of every 24 hours. We really need to reassess the likelihood of simultaneity and design systems that are better suited to lower and more intermittent flow conditions.

WW: What regulatory measures do you think will have the biggest impact on water conservation in Colorado?

One of the best strategies that Colorado can implement in regulations is to focus on hot water delivery systems in buildings. The most valuable water to conserve is hot water at the top of the tallest building located at the highest elevation in each community. The key is to limit the volume of water between the source of hot water (water heater, circulation loop or heat-traced pipe) to the plumbing fixtures and appliances. Decide on how long a wait or how much water running down the drain is acceptable. Design regulations to implement that level of performance.

WW: What technologies do you think will have the biggest impact on water conservation in Colorado?

Install plumbing infrastructure in buildings that supports efficient behaviors. Design better plumbing configurations that reduce structural waste. Install devices like ShowerStart or AquaPedal that reduce behavioral waste and PowerPipe or EcoDrain that capture waste heat from water that runs down the drain. Nexus E-Water, that captures waste heat from grey water and uses it to make hot water; if desired, can also treat the grey water for reuse on site.

WW: What has given you the most satisfaction during your career?

Being able to see that my efforts are making a difference.

“One of the best strategies that Colorado can implement in regulations is to focus on hot water delivery systems in buildings. The most valuable water to conserve is hot water at the top of the tallest building located at the highest elevation in each community”

Interview with Gary Klein

Winter 2014


Children’s Water Festival: Planting the Seed

By Joseph R. Burtard, Ute Water Conservancy District

“It takes a village to raise a child,” a traditional African proverb, summarizes the dedication of our community in their coordination, support, and participation in our local children’s water festival. Nearly 2,500 fifth-graders celebrated the end of their school year at the 21st Annual Western Colorado Children’s Water Festival. This is an educational effort that ‘floods’ the Colorado Mesa University (CMU) campus with over 350 presenters and volunteers from across the state of Colorado and from as far away as Canada. Over the course of two days students from public, private, and homeschool institutions learn about a diverse range of water-related topics including conservation, drought, water law, riparian and aquatic life, human health, weather, recreation, agriculture, and much, much more! The indoor and outdoor presentations align with the State of Colorado’s fifth grade education standards and cover a wide range of curriculum areas including language arts, math, science, social studies, visual art, and health. Students participate in structured presentations that give them an opportunity to relate what they learned in the classroom during their water curriculum to the hands-on experience of the festival. Every presentation is taught by a water expert which exposes the students, in a unique and personal way, to a wide variety of professions, whether it is a water resource engineer, water attorney, heavy equipment operator, meteorologist, farmer, or treatment plant operator. The festival is held at CMU in an effort to endorse and encourage the idea of furthering the students’ education. Over 30% of the local graduating high school students from Mesa County Valley School District 51 attend CMU in their quest for a higher education. For many fifth grade students this is their very first opportunity to visit a university campus. The campus is flowing with a sense of pride and inspiration as students are navigating around campus and sitting in lecture halls.

Winter 2014


Central Colorado Water Conservancy District, in northeastern Colorado, coordinated the very first children’s water festival within our headwater state and is one of the oldest water festivals in the nation. It was soon after that the founders of the Western Colorado Children’s Water Festival had the seed planted in our local community. The festival has grown to be recognized not only as the largest water festival in the state but has also become a poster child for community participation and support. The City of Grand Junction, Clifton Water District, and Ute Water Conservancy District are the underwriters and foundation for the festival. However, the growth and success of this event over the past 21 years, has been the result of support by local businesses within our community. The three municipal water providers work in collaboration, along with the thousands of dollars raised in sponsorship, to ensure that this festival is offered at no cost to the participants. The Children’s Water Festival Committee, consisting of representatives from various local organizations, begins their coordination efforts immediately following the conclusion of the event each year. Fifth grade teachers from Rifle, Parachute, DeBeque, Delta, Gateway, and the entire Grand Valley wait in anticipation for the registration process to open. Last year’s theme was “We Know Water” which focused on the wide variety of industries that rely on Colorado water. Contact Joseph R. Burtard with Ute Water Conservancy District at [email protected] or (970) 242-7491 for additional information on the Western Colorado Children’s Water Festival.

Winter 2014


From Nightmare to Inspiration: School kids get the BIG picture

through play

By Paul Fanning, Pueblo Board of Water Works “Your session will be 45 minutes with about 50 kindergartners, right after lunch.” This is what the coordinator for a summer camp program told me a week before said session was to take place. I had accepted the invitation to present at the camp a few weeks prior, not having been told the details but fully expecting a repeat of my previous year’s visit. That session was thirty minutes long with about 20 fifth-graders. Using the AWWA publication, The Story of Drinking Water as a guide, we had done an interactive, quiz-based activity. In the past I have also, as have most water educators, worked with the younger crowd which had always been with a very small number of kids at one time, with very short periods of time per session (what is the attention span of a five-year-old?) and usually while handling water in a limited, messy area.

I shivered at the thought of attempting to engage that many kids of that age in any meaningful way for that length of time, but it was too late to cancel – the show must go on!Wait a minute – that’s IT! The SHOW must go on!

Harking back to a prior life of misbegotten theatrical experience, I developed a short play in which the participants act out the entire water supply system, from the snow falling in the mountains through a thirsty person taking a big drink of healthy water. The activity takes into account several characteristics of such young learners:

Short attention spans Limited verbal proficiency Lots of energy – they like to move! Eagerness to volunteer and enthusiastically participate Willingness to share their thoughts (look out!)

I have since used this activity with students up to fifth-grade level, adapting the lessons and other details to be age-appropriate, with very good success. It has been added to the regular presentations at the Southeastern Colorado Children’s Water Festival each May for the past four years.

Winter 2014


Here’s how I structured that first “trial by water.” If you’d like to use the concept, you can certainly customize it to fit your needs. I divided the supply chain into eight sections:

1. Snowfall – “We bring the water!” – snowfall action, wiggling fingers from overhead to the floor2. Mountain stream – “We’re the dancing waters!” – energetic dance, as if splashing over rocks3. Creatures living in the water – “We live IN the water!” – make a fish face and wag your tail fin4. Arkansas River – “We are mighty and rolling!” – Large, wavelike movements5. Pueblo Dam and Reservoir – “We protect the city!” – Several students link arms to make a dam6. Treatment plant – “We clean the water!” – pouring chemicals from test tube to test tube7. Pumping and distribution – “We deliver the water!” – Vigorous tire pump motion8. Satisfied water drinker – “Mmmmm – thank you all!” Lifting glass as in a toast and drinking

There is also a poster-sized photo that corresponds to each of sections 1-7.

After a short introduction, during which the presenter tells the participants that they are going to teach him or her about the water system by acting it out, hold up the first photo, conduct a “tiny teach” lesson on that subject, and ask for volunteers. I pretty much guarantee every hand in the room will be raised. Have the math in your head to divide the total number of participants by seven (all sections except the final one) to determine how many volunteers to use on each section. Have the selected ones come to the front and learn their action and phrase. Once they have demonstrated that they can do it, ask for a round of applause for our talented actors! Repeat this sequence with sections 2-7. The first sections will need to be asked if they remember their action and phrase after every couple of additions, and may need to be coached through them again.

All the students are already involved when the seventh section is finished, so at this point the presenter surprises any adults present (teachers, parents) by recruiting them to join the pantomime of drinking water and saying, “Thank you!” to all the kids, who LOVE this.

The Grand Finale comes when the presenter explains that the wonderful thing about this system is that these actions don’t happen one after the other – they all take place all the time. “To see how this works, when I count down, all of you do your act at the same time – 3-2-1, go!”

What ensues will be noisy and fun, but is actually an accurate representation of the water supply system in action. I have not seen many available materials for teaching this larger picture of where our water comes from and how it travels to us, but it creates a nice context that helps explain the value of water and its wise use, in addition to “it’s the right thing to do.”

Winter 2014


What if Water could confront “Water Wasters” about their misuse in a personal (and humorous) manner to create an interruption in poor water use habits?

The City of Thornton Water Resources Division has been implementing Community Based Social Marketing tactics since 2007 to create new water saving habits in households throughout the city. This year, Thornton Water launched a new campaign - “Without Water Life Would Be Pretty Dry”- and birthed a Water conscience to talk directly with Thornton residents about how they can save more water. The campaign gives a voice to Water, a persona to relate to, and an expert in practical advice from a valuable resource, Water.

Although Water sends messages into the community using many of the traditional media tactics, Water has rallied a secret weapon, Thornton Water Ambassadors. Who better to help convey the voice of Water than volunteer messengers that are passionate, water-efficient role models in the community?

Roy and Vipul volunteer at festivals and events to collect pledges from residents committing to save water. Roy also installed rotary spray nozzles throughout his yard, reducing his outdoor water use in half. Brian helps his neighbors repair leaks and tested smart irrigation technology at home to provide feedback to Thornton Water staff. Stacy brings Water’s Bucket display to schools and taught her daughter’s class about smart water use.

Ambassadors provide a trusted resource in the community. Residents are shown to be more receptive to information delivered by peers than by a utility and are much more likely to change their behaviors if they have experienced awareness, education AND engagement.

Yet the question remains, does social marketing change the way people use water? Residential water usage data shows that people who took the pledge to save water reduced their indoor and outdoor usage by 10%. Thornton’s residential gallons per capita per day (gpcd) has dropped from 106 gpcd in 2001 to 82 gpcd in 2013. When surveyed, Thornton residents demonstrate high awareness of campaign messages and water conservation programs.

By Tonya Peters, Orange Circle Consulting and Laura Wing, City of Thornton

Winter 2014

“Keep the Green, Save the Blue” – Your Friend, Water


By Leslie Martien, Aquacraft, Inc.

Plant Profile:Crataegus ambigua – Russian Hawthorne

Winter is a tough time of year for gardeners. Working the frozen soil is impossible and plants tend to lie in a brown, matted heap, beaten down by wind and snow. And despite the best of intentions, most Colorado gardeners find that the very short days make winter watering a hit or miss proposition at best. This means that we must rely on the beauty of some tough plants to tide us over until spring. Plant Select’s Russian Hawthorne is one such plant, providing visual interest through all four seasons. The dense, gnarled branches are covered by masses of fragrant, white flowers in the spring that are offset by shiny green, finely serrated leaves. The shiny, smooth, gray bark serves as a foil for the bright, red berries that persist on the tree well into the fall and winter and provide food for flocks of cedar waxwings and robins.

Its beauty belies its hardy constitution: A native of western Asia, Crataegus ambigua is a small ornamental tree with rounded form reaching 20-25’ tall and wide. This tough, xeric tree is tolerant of a wide range of soil types and is hardy to 8,000 feet. It prefers a location where it receives full sun and can tolerate the cold, dry winds that are typical of our Colorado winters.

Because of its low canopy and thorns this under-utilized tree should be planted away from walkways or lawn areas. Find an area in your garden where you can enjoy the colorful fruits of this long-lived tree during the winter and begin to anticipate the coming spring.

“The thorn trees hold their berries high In crowded scarlet to the sky No beads so red were ever seen When gypsies came upon the green.”

-Rachel Field (1894 - 1942)

Winter 2014


Mile High Youth Corps Saves Customers Water and Money

By Tory Pearson, Mile High Youth Corps

For more than 22 years, Mile High Youth Corps (MHYC) has been helping our youth improve themselves while improving their communities. MHYC’s Energy & Water Conservation programs prepare youth ages 18-24 to join the workforce. Corps members learn valuable vocational skills while going out in to the community to help low-income households and nonprofit organizations use water and energy more efficiently. Working in small crews, Corps members install low-flow shower heads, high-efficiency toilets and many other energy saving devices as they educate residents and community members on the environmental and financial benefits of conservation.

Mile High Youth Corps’ water conservation efforts are possible due in part to partnerships with Denver Water and Aurora Water. Through these partnerships, qualifying customers can replace up to two toilets, two showerheads and three faucet aerators with water-saving versions. These devices save water and money for the customers who need them the most. Since 2007, MHYC youth have installed over 15,000 high-efficiency toilets and 17,500 low-flow shower heads free of charge!

In 2013, Mile High Youth Corps conducted energy and water retrofits in 4,498 low-income homes throughout the Denver Metro area. The retrofitted households will conserve 53,148,695 gallons of water each year; the equivalent of 82 Olympic size swimming pools. And, through MHYC’s efforts in 2013 alone, clients will save nearly $500,000 over the life cycle of the products installed.

Communities across the world have shown interest in replicating Mile High Youth Corps’ energy and water conservation models. In 2009 and 2010, MHYC received a national Project of the Year award from The Corps Network for these innovative efforts. Our programs offer comprehensive Career & College Readiness Training, allowing young people to develop the skills they need to achieve their educational and career goals. Graduates can also earn an AmeriCorps Education Award for post-secondary education expenses. Recruitment for spring crews is currently underway. Visit www.milehighyouthcorps.org to apply.

Winter 2014


Water Education: We Teach the Teachers - They Teach the Kids!

By Natalie Brower-Kirton, Aurora Water

2014 marks the ninth consecutive year that the education team from Aurora Water and Aurora Parks, Recreation and Open Space have provided their award winning “Forests to Faucets” workshop for teachers. Twenty-eight teachers attended this year’s program, held June 23-25, and unanimously agreed that it was a great experience! Of course, it doesn’t stop there! These 28 teachers will work with over 1,600 students in the 2014/2015 school year alone.

Designed to provide Aurora teachers with an in-depth education about water and water-related issues, the three-day training program is free for Aurora educators. Teachers spend time in their watershed learning how a healthy forest relates to a healthy watershed. Throughout the workshop they experience interactive Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) and Project Learning Tree curriculum and activities that they can immediately take back to their classrooms.

Tours of the Hayman Fire burn area, the Trumble Experimental Forest, the Aurora Reservoir, Binney Water Purification Facility, Aurora’s Xeriscape Gardens and the Sand Creek Water Reuse Facility round out the program. The workshop includes educating teachers about the importance of conservation and making the connection between clean water and protecting the environment.

Participants who complete the program received 1.5 hours of graduate/re-certification credit through the Colorado School of Mines and water-related curriculum guides, along with an in-depth understanding of water. Additionally, Aurora teachers gain access to Aurora Water’s innovative educational resources including school assemblies, classroom presentations for K-12 students, the Aurora Youth Water Festival field trip for fifth graders, field trips conducted at the Aurora Reservoir AWQUA Lounge and H2O Outdoors, a 3-day water camp for high school students.

“This was one of the best classes I have taken as a teacher. I have a wealth of knowledge that I’m taking away! I didn’t even mind giving up three days of summer!”-2nd grade teacher, Buffalo Trail Elementary.

Winter 2014


Protecting Water is Protecting Whooping Cranes

In Kearney, Nebraska something very special happens each year to signify the beginning of spring. Around March, the remaining few hundred of the endangered whooping cranes migrate to a protected area in Nebraska on their way from Mexico to Canada. The whooping crane is accompanied by the sandhill crane, creating a spectacular sight of thousands of cranes flying into land on the Big Bend Region of the Platte River Valley.

On September 30, 2014 the One World One Water Center at Metropolitan State University of Denver hosted an event with whooping crane experts Dan Luecke and David Little. Both speakers played roles in the creation of the Platte River Recovery Implementation Plan (PRRIP), which was established to protect the habitat used by whooping cranes. The plan began implementing conservation measures in 2007 with thirteen-year goals set such as reducing flow shortages by 130,000-150,000 acre-feet and purchasing, leasing, or placing 10,000 acres of land under easement. By 2011, 8,000 acres of land had been acquired and Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska have all created agreements to release water into the habitat.

So why are these birds worth protecting? The whooping crane is the tallest bird in North America as well as one of the rarest. Like most other avian species, cranes are important to the environment because they pollinate plants, disperse seeds, and recycle nutrients back into the earth. In fact, birds and bees contribute millions of dollars to the agriculture industry through plant pollination and seed dispersal each year. In 1941, there were only fifteen whooping cranes remaining due to over-hunting and habitat loss from economic developments. Through intense conservation efforts that number has risen to almost 300 in 2014. It is important to protect the whooping crane and the habitat it uses because it is human impact that depleted its population so drastically and it is human impact that can save it.

In March of 2015, MSU Denver students in the Journalism Department’s Social Documentary course will be given the unique opportunity to travel to Kearney, Nebraska with the OWOW Center to experience the inspiring crane migration first hand. The course will be taught by Kenn Bisio who is a world-renown photojournalist with more than 30 years in the business. His background includes working for the Associated Press San Francisco, the Denver Post, Time Magazine, and National Geographic.

By Nona Shipman, One World One Water

Winter 2014


New Conservation Programs for Commercial Sector Identify Potential

Water Savings

Beginning in the fall of 2013 the Center for ReSource Conservation (CRC) began laying the foundation for a commercial water assessment program. Through a grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board and partnerships with a local expert consultant Water DM and six Front Range utilities, CRC created a commercial water assessment program to help utilities reach businesses and to help businesses save water.

The program focuses on the two most common areas of water use across the commercial sector: kitchen and restroom use. During the assessment the water technician measures flow rates, notes and reports any leaky faucets, showerheads or toilets, and identifies appliance models that use water. All of the data is gathered through an Excel-based CII Assessment Tool, created by The Brendle Group and the City of Boulder, with support from Colorado WaterWise.

The Tool provides the back-end calculations for potential water and cost savings. It calculates the benefits of switching out inefficient fixtures with WaterSense standard fixtures, cost savings estimates (both for water and energy savings if the fixture uses hot water), and pay-back periods for all potential upgrades. The Tool allows for the input of unique utility rates and rebates in order to provide each business with a customized assessment of their potential for water savings improvements. During the first year of the program CRC performed 25 assessments at 9 different types of businesses. From the first 22 assessments alone, CRC identified more than 9 million gallons of potential water savings and more than $77,000 in cost savings for the businesses through simple fixture upgrades (see table). From this list of fixtures aerators, showerheads, tank toilets and urinals were found to offer the highest potential for water and cost savings. This bodes well for water efficiency improvements within the commercial sector, as these products are not only readily available, but also relatively inexpensive. And with the recent passage of Senate Bill 14-103 in the Colorado state legislature, stores and suppliers will soon only be carrying WaterSense versions of these fixtures.

Not all businesses will decide to follow through with these upgrades immediately, but this kind of information is still useful to both the business and the utility. The business can use the information to plan for and implement fixture upgrades that make the most economic sense, while the utility can also plan for conservation programs that offer their businesses the most pertinent and impactful options through programs such as rebates or direct-installs.

By Morgan Shimabuku, Center for Resource Conservation

While the commercial assessment program is still adapting to the demand and the needs of different water utilities and Colorado businesses, the findings from this initial stage in the program suggest that there are significant conservation opportunities within the commercial sector. A commercial assessment program is therefore a valuable offering within a well-rounded portfolio of water conservation programs.

Winter 2014


By Norman Creeker, Cherry Creek 3

Getting “Water Wiser” Fuels Cherry Creek 3 HOA Turnaround – Part I

Blame curiosity for the reason Don Ireland started looking around his Third Cherry Creek Townhouse Corporation neighborhood. He wasn’t happy that the water and sewage bills were consuming roughly 42% of Cherry Creek 3’s annual budget. Even worse, the rows of unsightly old juniper bushes and outdated lava rock were such an eyesore that, in 2008, his wife, Lynn, seriously considered moving out of the 42-year-old Denver condo complex.

Instead of complaining to the HOA Board of Directors or calling a realtor, Don’s curiosity steered him into a learning venture that helped turn the 251-unit complex into a beacon of water conservation and a growing visual delight for residents.

In 2007, Don considered himself “just an ordinary resident” who frequently attended the monthly HOA Board meetings so he could learn about news in the community. But after hearing how the growing water and sewer bills were causing a problem, he contacted Denver Water to see what might be done.Within a few months, Denver Water offered a unique toilet-replacement program that included toilets and rebate money to help pay for installation costs. “There were concerns about whether owners would participate, liability and other issues,” said Don. “It was frustrating. There were many times I thought nothing would ever get done.”

Months later, in 2008, Don volunteered to run the project and serve as liaison between the HOA Board, Denver Water and Cherry Creek 3 residents. The effort moved ahead and more than 425 older, 3.5 gpf toilets were replaced with ones that used 1.6 gpf. The following year, the annual water bill dropped 3 million gallons, also triggering a substantial drop in the monthly sewage bill.

All of this work was a labor of love and community concern by Don, who said the effort, generated great satisfaction but no financial compensation for him. But Cherry Creek 3 enjoyed financial rewards. It got a $17,000 refund check from Denver Wastewater after Don proved the reduced water consumption – due to the new toilets – should necessitate a lower sewage consumption charge.

“It’s been an amazing journey and we’re not finished yet,” Don said. “Parts of the journey were really rough. Learning what’s good and getting others to understand, accept and take action isn’t easy. Thank goodness I had an HOA Board of Directors who was willing to take this journey with me.”

In our next newsletter: Follow Don’s journey in our spring newsletter to read how Cherry Creek 3 started changing its landscaping. That project yielded even better water savings, got a nomination for a Habitat Hero award and attracted the attention of Susan J. Tweit, Colorado award-winning author and biologist

Winter 2014


By Kathryn Parker, Central Colorado Water Conservancy District

Get WET and Get Wowed!

For many of us, developing a water education program has become an essential part of our jobs. Increasing water demands, population growth and water scarcity, climate change and environmental concerns, makes teaching about water more complicated than ever. Gone are the days when you could distribute activity books or water conservation tip bookmarks to classrooms and meet your goals. You don’t have the time, staff or resources to create a comprehensive water education curriculum.

The answer is waiting for you. For the price of a short training, you’ll receive a 600-page Curriculum and Activity Guide for water topics ranging from chemical characteristics to water resources existing within social constructs. I’m referring to Project WET, whose motto is “Educate. Empower. Act”. Since 1984 the Project WET Foundation has been dedicated to reaching children, teachers and communities with water education.

This non-profit organization has developed one of the most extensive sets of water resource education material in the world. The curriculum develops 21stcentury skills and is correlated with Common Core State Standards and National Science Education Standards. All the activities are interactive, accurate and science based, multi-sensory, adaptable, contemporary, relevant, measurable and solution oriented. And they’re fun!

Central Colorado Water Conservancy District (CCWCD) is a Host Institution, and I’m a regional coordinator for northeast Colorado. I cover the area north of Denver, and west of the Rockies. Other Host Institutions with Coordinators in Colorado include the Roaring Fork Conservancy in Basalt, Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Crested Butte, and Rio Grande Watershed Conservation and Education Initiative in Center. Metropolitan State University of Denver serves the metro Denver area. Trained facilitators abound around the state.

The National Headquarters in Bozeman, Montana provides training and resources to those individuals who sign a contract to become a regional or state coordinator. They may also apply to become a “Host Institution”; official providers of workshops with exclusive rights to distribute the WET curriculum. The Host Institution and Coordinator provide trainings for others wishing to become facilitators, who are then qualified to lead workshops in their own areas. Teachers and non-formal educators like you attend workshops to become certified in how to use the guide and lead the activities in classrooms or at water festivals.

There are two, upcoming trainings scheduled in Colorado. One was led by the Roaring Fork Conservancy in Basalt, Colorado on November 1, and the City of Greeley Water Conservation office will be holding a training specifically for non-formal educators on February 10, 2015 in Greeley, Colorado. This workshop will be presented in partnership with CCWCD and the West Greeley Conservation District. For the training in Basalt, contact Sarah Johnson at [email protected]; for the training in Greeley contact Ruth Quade at [email protected]. To learn more about Project WET and all the materials and resources they offer, you can always go to www.projectwet.org or contact me directly at [email protected]. I hope to see you at a training soon!

Winter 2014


Conservation News

By Laurie D’Audney, Fort Collins Utilities

U.S. EPA WaterSense(www.epa.gov/watersense)

ProGreen Expo(progreenexpo.com)

Updates

Loveland Youth Gardeners (lovelandyouthgardeners.

org)

• The Hotel Challenge will continue in 2015.

• Co-sponsoring a conference, Water Efficiency and Performance Assessment of Water Services, April 20-24 in Cincinnati. More information at www.efficient2015.com.

• Get cutting edge landscape and irrigation education at ProGreen, Jan. 13-16, Colorado Convention Center, Denver. Registration is open.

• Loveland Youth Gardeners is looking for an executive director. Apply by Dec. 19 to [email protected] efficiency savings.

Alliance for Water Efficiency

(www.a4we.org)• AWE is hosting a webinar, Creating Resilient Cities: Financing Efficiency in the Colorado River Basin, on Dec. 9.

update

Colorado Water Institute at CSU

(cwi.colostate.edu)• The second annual Poudre River Forum will be held Sat., Jan. 31, 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., The Ranch, 5280 Arena Cir., Loveland. With a theme of One River, Many Voices, the event will include presentations and community dialogue. Register by Jan. 23 at cwi.colostate.edu/thepoudrerunsthroughit.

• The 2015 Water Smart Innovations Conference will be held Oct. 7-9 in Las Vegas. The deadline for submitting abstracts is Feb. 5, 2015.

Water Smart Innovations Conference

(watersmartinnovations.com)

Winter 2014

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