Colorado Water Center

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Colorado Water Center

Research, education, & engagement to address today’s most pressing water issues in Colorado & beyond.

CoWC is one of 54 Water Resources Research Institutes created by the Water Resources Act of 1964, which collectively form the National Institutes for Water Resources. At Colorado State University, CoWC brings together a network of over 200 faculty members from various departments across campus and seeks to engage students and faculty in interdisciplinary research and to promote current water-relat

ed research taking place at CSU. A main focus area of CoWC is to inform interested faculty, students, and community members of water-related opportunities on the CSU campus and throughout the state of Colorado. We announce events, jobs and internships, research funding, and volunteer opportunities on our website and in our e-newsletter, The Current; produce the Colorado Water newsletter, host conferences, workshops, and seminars to highlight innovative water research and activities of CSU faculty and students; provide research grants and fellowship opportunities; and offer the Sustainable Water Interdisciplinary Minor (SWIM) for all undergraduates. Stay up to date with all things water in Colorado by following us on Instagram and Twitter

This Facebook account is officially recognized by Colorado State University; however, the views and opinions expressed on this page are not necessarily those of the University. CSU retains discretion to allow or disallow comments and/or posts on this page. For more information about CSU’s Social Media Policy, visit http://www.socialmedia.colostate.edu and for more information about Colorado State University, visit http://www.colostate.edu.

08/21/2026

and Congratulations to Daniel Dominguez, Colorado State University doctoral student and Colorado Water Fellows project coordinator, on receiving the 2026 Pat Tillman Scholarship, one of only 60 scholars named nationwide!

The Pat Tillman Foundation selects scholars based on their commitment to service, exceptional leadership, academic achievement, and potential to create lasting societal impact. A current doctoral student in watershed sciences, Dominguez's data-driven research is supporting the Colorado Water Center’s Water Quality and Access Program, addressing drinking water challenges for Colorado mobile home park residents.

Read about Daniel's accomplishment on CSU SOURCE via the following link: https://source.colostate.edu/csu-doctoral-student-named-2026-pat-tillman-scholar/

08/13/2026

students, are you interested in a water-related career? Want to make an impact in your community or gain a deeper understanding of water in our society? Apply to be part of the 2026-2027 CSU Colorado Water Fellows cohort!

This academic year-long program prepares the next generation of water leaders through professional development, mentorship, networking, and hands-on learning. From attending water conferences, field trips, and monthly meetings, every part of the program brings together a holistic, interdisciplinary understanding of water-related issues like water law, Tribal perspectives, water quality and access, and more - all while building professional connections and strengthening collaboration.

Learn more and apply by August 28, 2026 via the Colorado Water Center website: https://watercenter.colostate.edu/water-education-and-workforce-development/colorado-water-fellows/

08/11/2026

- we view it as a critical part of our work at the Colorado Water Center to better understand the water issues facing Colorado communities here and now. That's why on July 28, Colorado Water Center Director Karen Schlatter traveled to the to connect with folks in Colorado's unique high-alpine valley with an economy driven largely by agriculture, from livestock production to irrigated crops like potatoes and barley.

Hosted by CSU Extension 's Larry Brown, the San Luis Extension Area Director, Karen met with Rio Grande Water Conservation District board members and visited Brendon Rockey's seed potato farm to learn about soil health and pollinators.

Other highlights included visits to Mitchell Family Farms, where Tyler Mitchell is integrating winter rye rotations to advance water conservation and improve soil health. Karen also connected with local CSU Extension and 4-H staff, toured experimental field plots at Colorado State University College of Agricultural Sciences SLV Research Center, and met with Paul Formisano, director of the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center at Adams State University

Thank you to everyone who welcomed Karen and dedicated their time to connecting the Colorado Water Center to the San Luis Valley. We cannot wait for our next trip back!

08/10/2026

🚨 : Water Education Student Coordinator applications close tomorrow! 🚨

The Colorado Water Center is seeking a Water Education Student Coordinator. The position supports the planning and implementation of water education and workforce initiatives, including Water Literate Leaders, Colorado Project WET, and the Water Workforce Career Fair.

Responsibilities include:
💧Maintaining program processes and general administrative tasks
💧Supporting the development of water education resources and procedures
💧Assisting with advisory committees, stakeholder communications, events, and outreach

🗓️ Applications are due August 11, 2026!

Read the full job description and apply today at this link: https://wd12.myworkday.com/csusystem/d/inst/15$392530/9925$6278.htmld

08/07/2026

Meet Perry Cabot, Extension Professor of Irrigation and Water Resources with the Colorado Water Center!

Based at the Western Colorado Research Center, Cabot's agricultural water management work includes innovative irrigation technologies and cropping systems research, investigating how low-water forage crops like sainfoin can advance drought-tolerant practices across Colorado's agricultural industry. His research also extends to potential application of 3D-printing to modernize historical irrigation technology like the Parshall flume - developed a century ago at CSU.

Last May, Cabot received the (Colorado State University College of Agricultural Sciences) CAS Lincoln Laureate Award, an honor given to those who demonstrate exceptional balance and joint excellence across teaching and service in the spirit of CSU's land-grant mission.

"As an arm of the Office of Engagement and Extension, our job [at the Colorado Water Center] is to extend research capabilities and knowledge to the boundaries of our state," Cabot said. "I was thrilled to be nominated and to receive the award, but I think it's a credit to the university that they recognize this as a critical part of our jobs...as a celebrated part of our jobs."

An alumni of the CSU Civil and Environmental Engineering program, Cabot later received his Ph.D. in agricultural engineering and land resources from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Learn more about Perry, the impact of his agricultural water research, and the rest of the Colorado Water Center's programs on our website: https://watercenter.colostate.edu/

08/06/2026

It's time to learn something new in !

The Colorado River, the lifeblood of the American West, sits at a crossroads. Join us this fall for the Colorado Water Center's Interdisciplinary Water Resources Seminar, themed this year as, 'The Colorado River - Defining An Uncertain Future.'

Each week during the fall semester, this course will dive into one of the world's most managed, contested, and fascinating water systems, featuring guest lectures from prominent Colorado water professionals and experts. From water law and policy to tribal water rights, climate change impacts to water journalism, don't miss the chance to learn about the river that serves over 40 million people in the American West. Led by Colorado Water Center Director Karen Schlatter, the course will also feature:

Brad Udall, Colorado Water Center
Amy Ostdiek, Colorado Water Conservation Board
Jennifer Pitt, National Audubon Society
Taylor Hawes, The Nature Conservancy
Brenda Burman, Central Arizona Project
And more!

wanting to take the course for credit should register on RAMweb.

All interested faculty, students, and community members are welcome to attend lectures virtually or in-person between August 31 and November 16.

🗓️ Mondays from 4-5:00 p.m., starting August 24, 2026
📍Natural Resources Building, Room 109 (virtual options available)

Learn more about this year's topics and speakers and register via our website/link in bio: https://watercenter.colostate.edu/take-a-class/interdisciplinary-water-resources-seminar/

08/05/2026

The South Platte Salinity Stakeholder Group convened yesterday at Colorado State University as part of an ongoing effort to foster regional dialogue and coordination around salinity impacts in the basin.

Facilitated by the Colorado Water Center, 27 attendees from across the basin participated in group discussions and activities focused on research, data management, communication and outreach strategies and work towards developing a five-year roadmap thanks to support from a Colorado Water Conservation Board grant. The group's cooperative effort represents diverse stakeholder interests including agriculture, environmental conservation organizations, municipalities, water suppliers, water treatment, and researchers.

About 80% of Colorado's population resides in the South Platte River Basin, which also has the greatest concentration of irrigated agricultural lands accounting for approximately 72% of Colorado's agricultural output. As salinity, or the amount of dissolved salts in water, increases in the Basin, integrated stakeholder cooperation is more critical than ever.

Learn more about the SPSSG at this link: https://watercenter.colostate.edu/water-quality-and-access/south-platte-salinity-stakeholders/

07/29/2026

Congratulations to the 2026 John Fetcher Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District Scholarship Winners!

💧Christina Welch, Ph.D. candidate in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, CSU - Through qualitative research, Welch investigates how agricultural communities respond and plan for climate adaptation challenges, with attention to the interdependence of water availability and agricultural livelihoods. Her interdisciplinary background stretches from CSU's Agricultural Water Quality Program and grant writing to GIS mapping and project management. Welch holds a dual master's degree and spends her free time salsa dancing, trail running, and playing tennis.

💧Halley Hornberger, Environmental Manager Masters candidate, Western Colorado University - Shaped by her experience in river conservation and stewardship, Hornberger is pursuing a master's degree in Environmental Management with dual emphasis in Ecosystem Restoration and Integrative Public Land Management. She is directly connected to the Yampa River, with experience as a River Ambassador with Friends and a whitewater kayak instructor on the waterway.

Learn more about the scholarship and the 2026 recipients on the CoWC website: https://watercenter.colostate.edu/water-scholarships-fellowships-grants/

07/28/2026

📣 CSU Fort Collins students, we're hiring! 📣

The Colorado Water Center is seeking a Water Education Student Coordinator. The position supports the planning and implementation of water education and workforce initiatives, including Colorado Project WET, Water Literate Leaders, and the Water Workforce Career Fair.

Responsibilities include:

💧Maintaining program processes and general administrative tasks
💧Supporting the development of water education resources and procedures
💧Assisting with advisory committees, stakeholder communications, events, and outreach

🗓️ Applications are due August 11, 2026!

Read the full job description and apply today at the following link: https://col.st/b1wb7

07/22/2026

: The Future of Severance Taxes & Water Funding! What are severance taxes? Severance tax revenues are one major source of funding in a complex landscape, which supports water projects, local governments, and natural resource programs.

Senate Bill 25-040 (Colorado General Assembly, 2025) established the Future of Severance Taxes and Water Funding Task Force to examine the long-term sustainability of Colorado’s severance tax system, and the Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University was designated as the independent third-party research entity responsible for conducting the technical analysis underlying this report.

In June, CoWC and OEE staff traveled to Denver to present this new report to the Colorado General Assembly. Read the full report and executive summary: https://watercenter.colostate.edu/reports/

📸: CSU Extension Professor Rebecca Hill, CoWC Director Karen Schlatter, and CoWC Stakeholder Engagement Specialist Mindy Bridges present at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver.

Address

Fort Collins, CO

Telephone

(970) 491-2695

Website

http://linktr.ee/ColoradoWaterCenter

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