South Platte Forum Explores Issues Surrounding South Platte River
The 21st annual South Platte River Forum will be held Wednesday, Oct. 20, and Thursday, Oct. 21, at the Radisson Conference Center, 1900 Ken Pratt Blvd., Longmont. The forum, “High Stakes Games in the South Platte,” will examine issues such as water resources, potential projects and water quality standards in the South Platte basin.
Day one of the forum will include a basin overview and a session on water resources planning. The keynote luncheon on Oct. 20 will include a virtual tour of water projects in the South Platte basin. The Friends of the South Platte Award will be presented to Les Williams, board member of Northern Water and former executive director of St. Vrain and Left Hand Water District.
The afternoon will include a session titled “Deal or No Deal: Project Updates,” which will look at potential water projects around the western United States.
Day two of the forum includes several presentations on nutrient quality standards and how those standards impact agriculture, the environment and urban residents. The keynote speaker on Thursday will be Ann Bleed, former director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, who will discuss life along the South Platte downstream from Denver.
The afternoon session on Thursday is focused on alternatives to transferring agricultural water for municipal purposes.
The South Platte River begins high in the Colorado mountains near Fairplay. It flows through Denver and continues eastward into Nebraska, joining the North Platte River near the town of North Platte, Neb.
The South Platte Forum is sponsored by Tetra Tech, Colorado State University Extension, Aurora Water, Denver Water, Northern Water, Parker Water and Sanitation District, Colorado Water Institute, Metro Wastewater Reclamation District, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Deere and Ault Consultants, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Geological Survey.
Registration is available at the door for $115 per person. For a schedule of events, visit www.southplatteforum.org or contact Jennifer Brown at (402) 960-3670 or Jennifer@jjbrown.com.
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