Arkansas River Basin Water Forum March 4-5

February 27, 2004

Water Conservation and More: Ripples on the Arkansas is the theme of the 10th Annual Arkansas River Basin Water Forum to be held March 4-5, 2004, in Canon City, Colo. The purpose of the Forum is to provide information about water issues to create a greater understanding of Colorado water use and water conservation.

Topics to be presented at the 2004 Water Forum include the Arkansas River flow program, community conservation experiences and future considerations, canal and irrigation company problems and solutions, the history of instream and recreational flows in Colorado, the Colorado watershed movement, and a legislative update. Presenters include Supreme Court Justice Gregory J. Hobbs, Jr.; Karen Rademacher, Ditch and Canal Company Alliance; Richard Fox, Colorado Watershed Assembly; Dan Merriman, Colorado Water Conservation Board; Ed Quillen, newspaper columnist and author; state and federal agency representatives and executive directors of Arkansas River water conservancy districts.

Colorado State University Climatologist Nolan Doeskin will speak about the continued drought and the new Community Collaborative Rain and Hail Study (CoCoRaHS). CoCoRaHS is an initiative to develop a network of volunteers throughout the basin to record daily rain and snow data to be used for water supply forecasting and other scientific purposes.

The Forum will again sponsor an open photography and K-12 art, essay and poetry contest to encourage learning about the importance of water in the basin. Cash prizes will be awarded. For more information on these contests, contact Margaret Barber at CSU-Pueblo, 719-549-2651.

Cost to attend the two-day forum is $45, $30 to attend one day only, or $25 for students. A limited number of scholarships are available. Registration and general water forum information may be found on the water forum’s website at http://arbwf.info or by calling Jane Wustrow at 719-543-8386 x4.