Group XIII – Regional Seminar

Regional Seminar – Colorado
Exploring Water Issues

September 13-18, 2009, Madison

Article written by Karen King, Group XIII Fellow

Rather than writing an article full of facts I learned from the Leadership Wisconsin Regional Seminar in Colorado, I chose to record my reflections and conclusions as we studied the issue of water, first along the Front Range and then from the Western Slope perspective.

Driving over the barren land of Eastern Colorado, I reflected on the hardships of early pioneers on the Oregon and Mormon Trails who followed the South Platte River hoping to get over the mountains and on to their destinations before winter set in.  I could imagine the isolation and unending hard work that characterized the farmers and their families, who decided to claim, and by necessity, irrigate the arid plains between the borders with other states and the Front Range.

In my mind’s eye, I could see the rough and tumble mining towns, such as Denver, crowded with desperate people hoping to make a fortune from gold or, alternately, from providing a variety of legal and illegal services to the miners.  I could imagine the tedious and dangerous work of building tunnels through the mountain for trains, and later for delivering water from the western side of the mountains to accommodate the increasing thirst of the growing populations in the eastern half of the state.

Sitting on the patio of the historic Colorado in Glenwood Springs on the western side of the state, I could visualize the elite patrons who disembarked from the train to settle in before heading off to the hot springs for health and rejuvenation.  Moving forward a half century, I could marvel at the 10th Mountain Division that trained in the snow-covered mountain resorts and eventually saw service in the mountains of northern Italy doing its part to rid Europe of the scourge of Nazi domination.  In Vail, I witnessed present-day development of recreational activities that reminded me that despite serious problems such as water scarcity, we still live in a free and prosperous country.

Throughout the six days, I thought about the central importance of water, abundance and scarcity, in the development of modern Colorado. Although seldom devolving into physical violence, the process of deciding whose allotment of water goes where has been an ongoing source of conflict in the state for a hundred years resulting in costly, acrimonious, and lengthy court battles. What became clear to me was that in this state, water and power are inseparable:  those who are in power are those who control the acquisition, storage, distribution, and pricing of water.

A special Thank You to our Seminar Chairs:
Reagan M. Waskom, Director, Colorado Water Institute; Julie Kallenberger, Assistant Regional Water Coordinator, Colorado Water Institute; and Rebecca Power, Regional Liaison, Great Lakes Regional Water Program UW Cooperative Extension.