Water district fall symposium to be Nov. 20

BERTHOUD — Experts from across the region will gather for the 2019 Northern Water Fall Symposium, set for 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, at The Embassy Suites, 4705 Clydesdale Parkway, Loveland. 

Unlike the Fall Water Users meetings of past years that focused on Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District projects and operations, the Fall Symposium will look at the larger water policy issues that affect Northeastern Colorado and the people who live there. 

The first panel will explore water reliability and the effects of climate change in the region. Jeff Lukas from the University of Colorado and Meagan Smith of Fort Collins Utilities will discuss approaches to better understand the uncertainty climate change presents for the future of water deliveries. 

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Second, a group with decades of combined experience in Colorado River water policy will discuss the uncharted future facing all Colorado residents because of the hydrologic uncertainty in the state. Panelists include: 

• Kyle Whitaker, Colorado River programs manager, Northern Water. 
• Bennett Raley, general counsel, Northern Water. 
• Amy Ostdiek, interstate and federal manager, Colorado Water Conservation Board. 
• Karen Kwon, first assistant attorney general, Federal Interstate Water Unit, Colorado Attorney General’s Office. 
• John McClow, general counsel, Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District and alternate commissioner, Upper Colorado River Commission. 

The luncheon speaker will be Jeff Martin of Denver Water, who will discuss that agency’s efforts with the Gross Reservoir Expansion Project to provide greater resiliency to the water users of the Denver Metropolitan Area. 

Following the Symposium, Northern Water will honor the career of longtime public information officer Brian Werner with a reception and program. Werner started at Northern Water in 1982 and served in many roles for the organization, including as its chief spokesman, historian, educator and tour organizer. 

Werner’s recognition reception will be 2-4:30 p.m., with a presentation planned at 3 p.m. 

All of the events are free, but registration is requested.