The Poudre Runs Through It Study/Action Work Group is made up of about 25 citizen experts representing a diversity of interests who were selected to study the Poudre River and formulate cooperative actions based on what they learn. This invitation-only group has been meeting since October 2012, continuing to build relationships and to put in action the initiatives they have identified, “to make the Poudre River the world’s best example of a working river that’s also healthy.”
Participants are chosen for their expertise related to the Poudre River, including those from the agricultural, environmental, municipal, industrial, recreational, business, development, and other sectors. The group also intentionally seeks to include individuals associated with a wide diversity of organizations and interests. Those chosen must embrace the value of collaboration.
Rules of Engagement
Guiding Document/Membership Statement
Work Group Participants
| Title | Affiliation | Community | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Brown * | Attorney | Fischer, Brown, Bartlett, Larsen & Irby, P.C. | Fort Collins |
| Carol Cochran | Owner | Horse and Dragon Brewing Company | Fort Collins |
| Jennifer Dial * | Water Resources Operation Manager | City of Greeley Water and Sewer Department | Fort Collins |
| Donnie Dustin | Water Resources Manager | City of Fort Collins Utilities | Fort Collins |
| Meegan Flenniken* | Land Conservation Planning and Resource Program Manager | Larimer County Department of Natural Resources | Fort Collins |
| Don Frick | General Manager/General Counsel | Water Supply and Storage Company | Fort Collins |
| Rob Graves | Owner | Morning Fresh Dairy Farm | Bellvue |
| Emily Hunt | Deputy Infrastructure Director | City of Thornton | Thornton |
| Rob Johnson | Broker and Farmer | A. Bruce Johnson & Associates, Land Resource Specialists | Greeley |
| Ken Kehmeier * | Aquatic Biologist, Retired | Colorado Parks & Wildlife | Fort Collins |
| Greg Kernohan* | Director of Ecosystem Services | Ducks Unlimited Great Plains Region | Fort Collins |
| Steve Malers | Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Technology Officer | Open Water Foundation | Fort Collins |
| Chris Matkins | Owner | Ally Utility Consulting | Fort Collins |
| Patrick McMeekin | Vice President of Land Development, Partner | Hartford Homes | Timnath |
| Brad Modesitt | Owner | Mountain Whitewater | Fort Collins |
| Andy Pineda | Agricultural Engineer | Larimer & Weld Irrigation Company | Eaton |
| Richard Raines | Water Resources Manager | Tri-Districts Water Resources | Fort Collins |
| Jen Shanahan | Watershed Planner | City of Fort Collins Natural Areas | Fort Collins |
| Mark Simpson | Poudre River Commissioner | Colorado Division of Water Resources | Loveland |
| Jeff Spohn | Senior Aquatic Biologist | Colorado Parks and Wildlife | Denver |
| Doug Swartz | Retired | City of Fort Collins Utilities | Fort Collins |
| Zach Thode | Manager | Roberts Ranch | Livermore |
| Dale Trowbridge * | General Manager | New Cache La Poudre Irrigating Co. & Cache La Poudre Reservoir Co. | Eaton |
| Wade Willis | Open Space and Trails Manager | Town of Windsor | Fort Collins |
| Brad Wind | General Manager | Northern Water | Berthoud |
| * PRTI Steering Committee | |||
PRTI Conveners/Facilitators
| Title | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
Phase 9|2020-2021
- 2020-2021 PRTI Meeting Calendar
- September 18, 2020
- November 20, 2020
- Agenda/Actions Taken
- Russ Schumacher, State Climatologist, Colorado Climate Center — Water Year 2020: A fast developing drought and historic wildfire year
- Meagan Smith, Water Resources Engineer, City of Fort Collins Utilities — Water Supply and Vulnerability Study
- January 8, 2021
- Agenda/Actions Taken
- Emily Hunt, Deputy Infrastructure Director, City of Thornton — Thornton’s Northern Properties Stewardship Plan
- March 26, 2021
- Agenda/Actions Taken
- Adam Jokerst, Deputy Director of Water and Sewer, City of Greeley — Greeley’s Terry Ranch Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project
- Terry Ranch Project Overview and Map
- Roy Otto, City Manager, City of Greeley — Update on Northern Colorado Regional Water Dialogue
- May 7, 2021
- Agenda/Actions Taken — coming soon
Phase 8|2019-2020
- September 13, 2019
- November 15, 2019
- Agenda – No Actions Taken
- Jen Kovecses, Executive Director, Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed — Restoration & Planning on the River CPRW update Fall 2019
- December 13, 2019
- Agenda/Actions Taken
- Jordan Williams, Assistant Program Manager, Poudre Heritage Alliance — Poudre Heritage Alliance Water Legacy Program
- Alex Funk, Agricultural Water Resources Specialist, Colorado Water Conservation Board — Alternative Transfer Methods in the South Platte Basin: Stories from the field
- Dan Brown, Attorney, Fischer, Brown, Bartlett & Gunn and Greg Kernohan, Director of Ecosystem Services, Ducks Unlimited — New Cache La Poudre Marketing Strategy
- Jen Petrzelka, Water Resources Operations Manager, City of Greeley — City of Greeley’s Agricultural Water Rental Program
- Susan Smolnik, Water Resources Engineer, City of Fort Collins — City of Fort Collins Municipal-Agricultural Water Arrangements
- January 10, 2020
- Agenda/Actions Taken
- Rick Novak, Industrial Hemp Specialist, Colorado Seed Growers Association — Industrial Hemp in Colorado and the Poudre Basin
- CSU Hemp Resource Center
- Hemp 101 Infographic
- Industrial Hemp: A Challenging Crop — article by Rick Novak
- May 8, 2020
- Agenda/Actions Taken
- Brad Wind, General Manager, Northern Water — Proposed Northern Integrated Supply Project Recreation Investment Proposal
Phase 7|2018-2019
- May 3, 2019
- March 8, 2019
- January 4, 2019
- November 2, 2018
- Agenda/Actions Taken
- Historic Users Pool (HUP) Call — Kyle Whitaker
- September 7, 2018
- Agenda/Actions Taken
- Larimer County Comprehensive Plan — Matt Lafferty
- Poudre Basin Informational Platform Presentation — Steve Malers
Phase 6| 2017-2018
- May 11, 2018
- March 9, 2018
- January 12, 2018
- Agenda/Actions Taken
- Lower Poudre Flood Recover and Resiliency – Jen Kovecses
- Transient Explorer’s Progress Report – John Bartholow
- November 17, 2017
- Agenda/Actions Taken
- Water, Ducks, and Questionable Water Future – Greg Kernohan
- September 15, 2017
- Agenda/Actions Taken
- Floodplain Management: A Brief Overview – Diana Aungst
Phase 5| 2016-2017
- May 12, 2017
- March 10, 2017
- January 13, 2017
- Agenda/Actions Taken
- Poudre River Dry-up – Daylan Figgs
- BH Eaton and Whitney Ditch Fish Passage – Wade Willis
- Whitney School House and the Colorado Doctrine — Clippings from Robert Ward
- November 18, 2016
- Agenda/Actions Taken
- Utilizing Instream Flow to Predict and Protect Aquatic Habitat – Ken Kehmeier
- Collition for the Poudre Watershed – Jen Kovecses
- September 16, 2016
Phase 4|2015-2016
- May 6, 2016
- March 4, 2016
- Agenda/Actions Taken
- Colorado’s Water Plan – Brent Newman
- January 22, 2016
- November 20, 2015
- AgendaActions Taken
- Thornton Water Project – Mark Koleber
- September 11, 2015
Phase 3 | 2014-2015
- May 8, 2015
- AgendaActions Taken
- Study/Action Work Group Resource Materials
- January 9, 2015
- Agenda
- Study/Action Work Group Resource Materials
- Water Supply Permit Process – Cody Wheeler
- Providing Water for Environmental Uses on the West Slope – Dan Birch
- November 14, 2014
- September 30, 2014
- Agenda
- Summary
- Study/Action Work Group Resource Materials
- City of Greeley Poudre Initiative – Rebecca Safarik
- Greeley Field Trip Photos:
Phase 1 | 2021-2013
- May 3, 2013
- Agenda
- Summary
- Homework
- Study/Action Work Group Resource Materials
- Open Water Foundation Presentation – Steve Malers
- April 5, 2013
- Agenda
- Summary
- Study/Action Work Group Resource Materials
- Straw Man: Northern Colorado River Conservancy District – John Bartholow
- Colorado’s Instream Flow and Natural Lake Level Program – Linda Bassi
- March 1, 2013
- Agenda
- Summary
- Homework
- Study/Action Work Group Resource Materials
- Halligan Seaman Reservoir Expansions Permit Update – Eric Reckentine & Donnie Dustin
- Hewlett Gulch Wildfire and High Park Wildfire Update – Eric Reckentine
- February 8, 2013
- Agenda
- Summary
- Homework
- Study/Action Work Group Resource Materials
- Woodward Link-N-Greens River Area Concept – Rocky Scott
- Thornton Northern Water Project Overview – Mark Koleber, Emily Hunt & John Himyak
- Northern Integrated Supply Project – Carl Brouwer
- January 11, 2013
- Agenda
- Summary
- Homework
- Lower Dolores River – Implementation, Monitoring & Evaluation Plan Overview
- Water Partners – Trout Unlimited
- 14 Degrees – the Story of Wasson Creek Restoration – Trout Unlimited
- Study/Action Work Group Resource Materials
- Poudre River Ecosystem Response Model – John Stokes
- Murray Darling Basin Plan – Susan Smolnik
- Floodplain = Flood Way and Flood Fringe – Rich Shannon
- Overview of Tri-Districts Water System – Shawn Hoff & Richard Raines
- December 14, 2012
- Agenda
- Summary
- Homework
- Study/Action Work Group Resource Materials
- North Poudre Irrigation Company – Steve Smith
- Little Snake River Water Sharing Stories – Larry Hicks
- Fort Collins Water Use – Susan Smolnik
- Fort Collins Water Use Handout – Susan Smolnik
- George Varra Handout
- Working River Questions for George Varra & Crew
- Greeley Water Supply – Eric Reckentine
- New Cache La Poudre Irrigating Company – Dale Trowbridge
- Healthy River Definition – John Bledsoe & John Sanderson
- Healthy River Definition Handout – John Bledsoe & John Sanderson
- Law as Catalyst – Annie Epperson & David M. Freeman (University of Denver Water Law Review)
- November 2, 2012
- Agenda
- Summary
- Homework
- Study/Action Work Group Resource Materials
- Hydro-Ecology and Poudre River Futures – John Bledsoe & John Sanderson
- Ecologically Sustainable Water Management: Managing River Flows for Ecological Integrity – Richter et al. (2003)
- October 5, 2012
- Agenda
- Summary
- Study/Action Work Group Resource Materials
- Poudre River Slides – John Barthlolow, Stephen Smith & Kendal Perez
- Stream Management Plan, Grand County Colorado
Previous Work Group Participants
| Position and Affiliation while serving on PRTI | |
|---|---|
| Diana Aungst | Flood Plain Manager, Weld County Planning Department |
| John Bartholow | Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey |
| Brian Bledsoe | Hydrologist, Colorado State University |
| Jeffrey Boring | Resource Specialist, Larimer County Natural Resources Department |
| Tim Brown | Farmer, Brown Farms |
| John Bustos Jr. | U.S. Forest Service |
| Ray Caraway | President, Community Foundation of Northern Colorado |
| Pete Conovitz | Water Resource Specialist, Colorado Parks and Wildlife |
| Sean Cronin | Executive Director, St. Vrain & Left Hand Water Conservancy District |
| April Getchius | Town of Timnath |
| Dennis Harmon | General Manager, Water Supply and Storage Company |
| Scott Hummer | Manager, North Poudre Irrigation Company |
| Heather Knight | Associate Director of Practice, Center for Collaborative Conservation at CSU |
| Mark Koleber | Thornton Water Project Director, City of Thornton |
| Jennifer Kovecses | Executive Director, Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed |
| Wynne Odell | Partner, Odell Brewing Company |
| Eric Reckentine | District Manager, North Weld County Water District |
| Jim Reidhead | Larimer County Rural Land Use Center and UniverCity Connections |
| Matt Robenalt | Urban Redevelopment & Public Finance Project Manager, Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority |
| Doug Robotham | Colorado Water Project Director, The Nature Conservancy |
| John Sanderson | Director of Conservation Science, The Nature Conservancy |
| Bill Sears | President, American International Investment & Trading Co. |
| Troy Seaworth | Farmer, Seaworth Ag Enterprises |
| Rich Shannon | Vice President, Pinnacle Consulting Group – Real Estate Development |
| MaryLou Smith | Policy & Collaboration Specialist, Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University |
| Steve Smith | Manager, North Poudre Irrigation Company |
| Susan Smolnik | Water Resources Engineer, City of Fort Collins Utilities |
| John Stokes | Director, City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department |
| Bob Streeter | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, Colorado Parks & Wildlife |
| George Varra | Poudre River Commissioner, Colorado State Engineer’s Office and Farmer, George Varra Farms |
| Robert Ward | Director, Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University |
| Reagan Waskom | Director, Colorado Water Center, Colorado State University |
Organizations with which PRTI Work Group Members are Affiliated
American Canoe Assoc. | American River Assoc. | American Water Resources Assoc. | Big Thompson Watershed Forum | BreWater | Cache La Poudre Reservoir Company
Cache La Poudre Water Users Assoc. | Center for Collaborative Conservation | City of Ft. Collins Natural Areas Dept. | City of Ft. Collins Natural Resources Advisory Board
City of Ft. Collins Utilities | City of Greeley Water and Sewer Dept. | City of Thornton | Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed | Colorado Ag Water Alliance | Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts | Colorado Cattlemen’s Assoc. | Colorado Conservation Exchange | Colorado Division of Water Resources | Colorado Dry Bean Assoc. | Colorado Open Lands | Colorado Open Space Alliance | Colorado Parks & Wildlife | Colorado State University | Colorado Water Center | Colorado Water Congress | Community Foundation of Northern Colorado | Ditch and Reservoir Company Alliance | Ducks Unlimited | East Larimer County Water District Embrace Northern Colorado | Family Farm Alliance | Ft. Collins Conservation District | Ft. Collins Downtown Development Authority | Ft. Collins Housing Authority | Ft. Collins-Loveland Water District | Ft. Collins Water Board | Four States Irrigation Council | Larimer County Agricultural Advisory Board | Larimer County Farm Services Admin. | Larimer County Natural Resources Dept. | Larimer County Stock Growers Assoc. | Lower Poudre Augmentation Co. | Metro Roundtable | Morning Fresh Dairy, Noosa Yoghurt | Mountain Whitewater | National Audubon Society | The Nature Conservancy | The New Cache La Poudre Irrigating Co. | North Poudre Irrigation Co. | North Front Range MPO | Northern Water | North Weld County Water District | Open Water Foundation | Participants in Halligan/Seaman Water Mgt. Project | Pheasants Forever | Poudre Heritage Alliance | Poudre River Trail Corridor Inc. | Poudre River Trust | Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory | Rocky Mountain Flycasters | Save the Poudre | South Platte Basin Roundtable | St. Vrain & Left Hand Water Conservancy District | Town of Windsor | Town of Timnath | Trout Unlimited | UniverCity Connections-Poudre Group | U.S. Forest Service | U.S. Geological Survey | Water Education Colorado | Water Supply & Storage Co. | Weld County | Weld County Underground Water Users Assoc.
