MONTROSE, COLO.–Join Montrose County, the Colorado River District, and Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association for the fifth annual West Slope Water Summit on Nov. 9 from 9am to 2pm at the Montrose County Event Center (1036 North 7th Street). Doors open at 8:30 a.m., with presentations starting at 9am. The West Slope Water Summit is free and includes lunch—registration is required.
"What impresses me most about the West Slope Water Summit is how knowledgeable the attendees are about water in the Uncompahgre Valley," said Commissioner Sue Hansen. "Our goal is to further educate those who have lived here forever and also to provide education to new residents in the valley. This year’s event highlights climate and energy, streamflow, water/forest issues, and water storage. We must be vigilant with our water, we must understand our water, and we must persevere to prioritize our water."
This year's speakers include a virtual update from Andy Mueller with the Colorado River District, a presentation from Roger Pielke Jr., featuring "Five Things Everyone Should Know About Climate and Energy", an update from Connie Woodhouse on "Three-Rings and Colorado River Streamflow: Is the Record of Past Streamflow Useful for Water Resource Management Today?", a presentation by Tammy Randall Parker of the U.S. Forest Service on "Where Water Meets Forests", and lastly a panel on "Why Water Storage is Critical—Challenges and Opportunities" moderated by Bob Hurford and Aaron Clay.
The event is free and open to the public. A livestream will also be available at westslopewatersummit.com. Lunch is provided with an RSVP. For more information and to register, visit www.westslopewatersummit.com or call 970-964-8701. Local water information and resources are available here.