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Resilience in the Rockies Summit Brings Colorado Water Leaders Together to Advance Water Conservation

Audience seated at round tables facing a stage with a large screen reading 'Resilience in the Rockies Keynote' and a mountain landscape backdrop.

On October 20, more than 140 water leaders from across Colorado gathered at CSU Spur in Denver for the Resilience in the Rockies Summit.

The event brought together municipal and utility policymakers, community organizations, and industry partners to explore how water conservation and efficiency can serve as essential strategies for building long-term water supply and resilience. With the room at full capacity and standing room only, it was thrilling to see so much energy and engagement around opportunities for Colorado communities to upscale their conservation efforts!

The Summit was the culmination of our 4-part Resilience in the Rockies documentary series, produced in collaboration with waterloop, highlighting innovative programs, partnerships, and practical solutions from 12 Colorado communities that participated in WaterNow’s Project Accelerator. Each was designed to strengthen local water resilience using a variety of tactics, strategies and approaches. 

The event kicked off with keynote remarks from Colorado Water Conservation Board Director Lauren Ris, followed by highlights from the docuseries and panel discussions featuring the local leaders behind many of the projects. Discussions explored the 4 themes highlighted in the RiR docuseries – strategies for transforming landscapes, advancing conservation through local policy, securing funding for water efficiency projects, and building community trust and engagement.

 

Attendees also participated in the interactive Tapping into Efficiency World Café, where they exchanged ideas, discussed common challenges, and explored opportunities to advance conservation efforts in their own communities.

Throughout the day, several key messages stood out: Colorado communities are putting innovative water conservation strategies into action with considerable success, and there is a great deal more that can be done. From reimagining traditional landscapes to finding creative ways to finance infrastructure, the projects featured throughout the series demonstrate what’s possible when local leadership, collaboration, and practical solutions come together. The event also highlighted the remarkable benefits that can accrue from partnering with organizations like WaterNow that can provide additional capacity and expertise to supplement often stretched utility and municipal staff resources. 

Audience seated at round tables facing a stage with a large screen reading 'Resilience in the Rockies Keynote' and a mountain landscape backdrop.

Watch the Resilience in the Rockies Docuseries

Check all four episodes on our website to hear directly from the communities leading the way:

  • Episode 1: Rethinking Colorado Lawns — How communities are transforming water-intensive landscapes into beautiful, functional, and climate-appropriate spaces.
  • Episode 2: Governing for Gallons in Colorado — How local policies, financing approaches, and leadership are advancing conservation.
  • Episode 3: Connecting People to Conservation — How thoughtful outreach, partnerships, and community engagement are helping conservation programs succeed.
  • Episode 4: Finding Dollars for Drops — How Colorado communities are accessing funding and building partnerships to implement water-saving projects.

WaterNow extends a sincere thank you to all of the speakers, attendees, and community partners who made the Summit possible, as well as the Colorado Water Conservation Board for funding support, the Colorado Municipal League for its outreach partnership, and our generous sponsors, including PCL Construction, Norris Design, Merrick, Dip Deep Research, Aurora Water, Element Water Consulting, Desert Rose Environmental, Metro Water Recovery, INTERA, and the City of Greeley.

Together, we’re helping turn innovative conservation ideas into lasting solutions for Colorado’s water future.

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