Environmental, Governmental and Climate Changes Discussed at Annual South Platte River Forum

The 19th annual South Platte River Forum, sponsored in part by Colorado State University Extension, will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 22, and Thursday, Oct. 23, at the Radisson Conference Center in Longmont. The forum, "News, Weather and Water," will address pressing issues of the day and environmental and governmental changes affecting the South Platte River.

Day one of the forum will include a series of presentations highlighting the climate changes and patterns affecting the South Platte River. It will be presented by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the National Resource Conservation Service and the Colorado Climate Center.

Sonny Lubick, Colorado State University’s former football coach, will be the keynote speaker on Wednesday. Also, the Friends of the South Platte award will be given to the Platte River Greenway Foundation.

A number of presentations on Wednesday will be presented by Colorado State University, Colorado Division of Water resources, and U. S. Geological Survey representatives addressing government regulations and emerging issues facing the river.  

Day two of the forum will kick off with a series of investigative reports ranging from invasive aquatic species to the threat of the pine beetle.

On Thursday, Harris Sherman, executive director for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, will deliver the luncheon keynote address on the future of Colorado’s water.  Sherman is past chairman of the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission. He is a member of the Colorado Ground Water Commission and the Colorado Water Conservation Board.

Another highlight on Thursday will be a panel on "Who’s Who in the News." The panel includes Jennifer Gimble, director of the Water Conservation Board; Dick Wolfe, director of the Division of Water Resources; Tom Remington, director for the Division of Wildlife; and Dean Winstanley, director of the Division of Parks. Each will speak to their area of expertise regarding the South Platte River.

The South Platte River Forum is sponsored by Colorado State University Extension, Aurora Water, Denver Water, Northern Water, Parker Water and Sanitation District, Metro Wastewater and Reclamation District, Colorado Water Institute, the U.S. Department of Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Geological Survey, Colorado Division of Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.

Registration is available at the door for $115 per person. To see a complete schedule of the forum, visit www.southplatteforum.org or contact Jennifer Brown at (402) 960-3670 or Jennifer@jjbrown.com.  

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