Regional Economic Development Forum: Is the Ongoing Water Issue an Economic Development Problem?

Known as The Headwaters State, Colorado has 156 named rivers that originate in its headwater regions. Seventeen of them exceed 10,000 square kilometers. Colorado doesn’t have a water shortage problem; it has a water management problem. Continued warming, poor snowpack and low river flows have devastated available water supplies to our farmers, ranchers, cities, towns, and industries. This impacts how Colorado will retain its industry base, build attainable homes and grow enough food for its labor shed. You guessed it, water IS an Economic Development issue and Colorado’s Economic Development community will be forced to tackle this unprecedented threat.

Join us in welcoming a panel of subject matter experts as we discuss water and how it pertains to our economic development efforts, discuss potential policies and programs incentivizing education, conservation, and land use.

Moderator: Eric Larsen, Economic Development Project Manager, Elbert County

Presenters:

• Jim Yahn, Manager, North Sterling Irrigation District

• James Broderick, Executive Director, Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy

• Deb Daniel, General Manager, Republican River Water Conservation District

• Jennifer Gimbel, Senior Water Policy Scholar, Colorado Water Center & 2022 Terry J. Stevinson Fellow, Common Sense Institute