Join the conversation around West Slope water at your local meeting!
Find your local meeting and register today.
Hosted by the Colorado River District and a variety of local partnership organizations in twelve different watersheds, the State of the River event series is a spring tradition in western Colorado. Join your neighbors and local experts for a casual, public-information evening including not only a look at the upcoming hydrology, but a summary of major western water issues, and a spotlight for the projects and priorities of each local community.
Held in the evenings in a variety of local community spaces, State of the River meetings are designed to welcome anyone with an interest in these critical issues. No need to be an expert!
Registration is required, but attendance and dinner are free.
While each night’s program will vary slightly, we strive to leave time for a public Q&A session, and many of our presenters are available before and after for specific questions.
Key topics at all events will include:
- River flow forecasts
- Updates on the Colorado River system
- Local water projects and priorities
- Current challenges facing Western Colorado water users
- Shoshone Water Rights Preservation Project updates
- The work of the Colorado River District to fight for West Slope water
If there are local water issues, or projects worth celebrating that you would like to see featured at your community’s State of the River meeting, please include that information in the registration form.
We encourage all community members—whether deeply involved in water issues or just beginning to engage—to join us and participate in this important conversation.
Secure your spot today and be part of shaping the future of water in western Colorado!
Find your river!
Agendas will be posted for each meeting once they are finalized.
6-8 p.m. Olympian Hall, Howelson Hill, Steamboat Springs –
Presented in partnership with the Community Ag Alliance and Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District
AGENDA
6:00 p.m. – Dinner
6:30 p.m. – Introduction and Welcome – CRD Staff; Sonja Macys, CRD Board Director and Routt County Commissioner
6:35 p.m. – Hydrology and snowpack outlook – Hunter Causey, Chief Engineer, CRD
6:50 p.m. – Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District – Andy Rossi, General Manager, UYWCD
7:05 p.m. – Community Funding Partnership Program update – Melissa Wills, Community Funding Partnership Program Manager, CRD
7:20 p.m. – Community Ag. Alliance – Patrick Stanko, Ag. Resources Coordinator, CAA
7:30 p.m. – Colorado River District Update – Lindsay DeFrates, Dep. Director of Communications, CRD
7:50 p.m. – Q&A – Virtual submissions (QR on the agenda)
6-8 p.m. Moffat County Fairgrounds, Craig
Presented in partnership with the Community Ag Alliance
AGENDA
6:00 p.m. – Dinner
6:30 p.m. – Introduction and Welcome – Colorado River District Staff
6:35 p.m. – Hydrology and snowpack outlook – Hunter Causey, Chief Engineer, CRD
6:50 p.m. – Community Funding Partnership Program update – Melissa Wills, Community Funding Partnership Program Manager, CRD
7:05 p.m. – Community Ag. Alliance – Patrick Stanko, Ag. Resources Coordinator, CAA
7:20 p.m. – Colorado River District Update – Lindsay DeFrates, Dep. Director of Communications, CRD
7:45 p.m. – Q&A – Virtual submissions (QR on the agenda)
6-8 p.m. Montrose Event Center, Montrose
Presented in partnership with the Gunnison Basin Roundtable
6:00 – Dinner & Networking
6:30 – Introduction and Welcome – Colorado River District Staff; Wendell Koontz, Delta County Commissioner and Gunnison Basin Roundtable Chair
6:40 – Hydrology and Snowpack Outlook – Caleb Foy, Senior Water Resources Engineer, Colorado River District
7:00 – What’s at Stake for West Slope Water – Amy Moyer, Chief of Strategy, Colorado River District
7:35 – Community Funding Partnership Program – Melissa Wills, Community Funding Partnership Program Manager
7:50 – Q&A – Virtual submissions (QR code on the agenda)
8:00 PM – Event Concludes
Audience Q&A
6-8 p.m. Sherbino Theater, Ridgway
Presented in partnership with Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership and Ouray County Water Users Association.
6:00 – Dinner & Networking
6:30 – Introduction and welcome – Colorado River District Staff; Cary Denison, CRD Board Director
6:40 – Hydrology and snowpack outlook – Caleb Foy, Senior Water Resources Engineer, Colorado River District
6:50 – Community Funding Partnership Program update – Melissa Wills, Community Funding Partnership Program Manager
7:00 – Tanya Ishikawa, Executive Director, Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership; Christine Collins, Ouray County Water Users Association
7:15 – Colorado River District Update – Andy Mueller, Colorado River District General Manager
7:50 – Q&A – Virtual submissions (QR on the agenda)
8:00 PM – Event Concludes
Audience Q&A
12 -1:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 25
REGISTER HERE TO ATTEND ON ZOOM
AGENDA
12:00 p.m. Welcome and Introduction – Amy Moyer, Chief of Strategy
12:10 p.m. Hydrology and Snowpack for Western Colorado and the Colorado River Basin – Caleb Foy, Senior Water Resources Engineer
12:25 p.m. What’s at Stake for West Slope Water? Lindsay DeFrates, Deputy Director of Communications
12:50 p.m. 5 Years of Community Funding Partnership Solutions – Melissa Wills, Community Funding Partnership Program Manager
1:05 p.m. Audience Q&A
6-8 p.m. Meyer Ballroom, Colorado Mesa University – CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Presented in partnership with the Ruth Powell Hutchins Water Center at CMU
AGENDA COMING SOON
6:00 – Dinner
6:30 – Introduction and Welcome – Colorado River District Staff
6:35 – Snowpack Recap and River Forecast – Raquel Flinker, Colorado River District Director of Interstate and Regional Water Resources
6:50 – What’s at Stake for West Slope Water? – Andy Mueller, Colorado River District General Manager
7:30 – Ruth Powell Hutchins Water Center at CMU Update – Shannon Wadas, Executive Director
7:45 – Community Funding Partnership Program Update – Amy Moyer, Colorado River District Chief of Strategy
8:00 – Q&A – Virtual submissions (QR on the agenda)
Audience Q&A
6-8 p.m. Morgridge Commons, Glenwood Springs – CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Presented in partnership with the Middle Colorado Watershed Council
6:00 – Dinner
6:30 – Introduction and Welcome – Colorado River District Staff
6:35 – Snowpack Recap and River Forecast – Stephen Foster, Colorado River District Water Resources Engineer/Project Manager
6:50 – What’s at Stake for West Slope Water? – Andy Mueller, Colorado River District General Manager
7:30 – Middle Colorado Watershed Council Update – Kate Collins, Executive Director
7:45 – Community Funding Partnership Program Update – Amy Moyer, Colorado River District Chief of Strategy
8:00 – Q&A – Virtual submissions (QR on the agenda)
Audience Q&A
Presented in partnership with the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District
AGENDA
6:00 p.m. Light Dinner (free for registered attendees)
6:30 p.m. – Introduction and Welcome – Colorado River District Staff
6:35 p.m. – Hydrology and snowpack outlook – Rebecca Briesmoore, Water Resources Engineer/Project Manager, CRD
6:50 p.m. – What’s at Stake for West Slope Water? – Lindsay DeFrates, Dep. Director of Communications, CRD
7:15 p.m. – Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District Update – Al VandenBrink, RBWCD General Manager; CRD Board Director for Rio Blanco County
7:30 p.m. – White River Integrated Water Initiative Update – Elizabeth Chandler, Recovery Manager, Rio Blanco County
7:45 p.m. – Community Funding Partnership Program update – Amy Moyer, Chief of Strategy, CRD
7:55 p.m. – Q&A – Virtual submissions (QR on the agenda)
8:15 p.m. Program ends
Audience Q&A
6-8 p.m. Dunaway Room, Pitkin County Library, Aspen
Presented in partnership with Pitkin County Healthy Rivers and the Roaring Fork Conservancy District
6:00 p.m. Light Dinner (free for registered attendees)
6:30 p.m. Welcome and Program begins
8:15 p.m. Program ends
Audience Q&A
6-8 p.m. the Donovan Pavilion, Vail
Presented in partnership with the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District
High Five Access Media recording – Available on YouTube
AGENDA
5:45 – Dinner & Networking
6:30 – Introduction and Welcome – Colorado River District Staff and ERWSD Board Chair Dick Cleveland
6:35 – Snowpack Recap and River Forecast – Rebecca Briesmoore, CoWater Resources Engineer and Project Manager
6:55 – What’s at Stake for West Slope Water? – Andy Mueller, Colorado River District General Manager
7:30 – Eagle River Water and Sanitation District Update – Speaker TBD
7:50 – Community Funding Partnership Program Update – Melissa Wills, Colorado River District CFP Program Manager
8:00 – Q&A – Virtual submissions (QR on the agenda)
Audience Q&A
6-8 p.m. Western Colorado University, University Center Ballroom, Gunnison – CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Presented in partnership with the Upper Gunnison Water Conservancy District
AGENDA COMING SOON
6:00 p.m. Light Dinner (free for registered attendees)
6:30 p.m. Welcome and Program begins
8:15 p.m. Program ends
Audience Q&A
6-8 p.m. Silverthorne Pavilion, Silverthorne – CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Presented in partnership with the Blue River Watershed Group
AGENDA COMING SOON
6:00 – Dinner
6:30 – Introduction and Welcome – Colorado River District Staff,
6:35 – Snowpack Recap and River/Operations Forecast – Stephan Foster, Colorado River District Water Resources/Engineer Project Manager
6:55 – What’s at Stake for West Slope Water? – Andy Mueller, Colorado River District General Manager
7:35 – Blue River Watershed Group Update – Speaker TBD
7:55 – Legislative Wrap – Rep. Julie McCluskie, Sen. Dylan Roberts, Zane Kessler, Director of Government Relations, Colorado River District
8:15 – CFP Review and Video – Melissa Wills, CFP Program Manager, Colorado River District
8:25 p.m. Audience Q&A
6-8 p.m. Headwaters Center, Winter Park – CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Presented in partnership with Grand County
AGENDA COMING SOON
6:00 p.m. Light Dinner (free for registered attendees)
6:30 p.m. Welcome and Program begins
8:15 p.m. Program ends
Audience Q&A
Couldn’t make it to your local event?
Listen in to our recorded State of the River District virtual meeting from March 25, 2026.