Colorado Water Conservation Board rant funding expands Ruth Powell Hutchins Water Center water resource programs
Colorado Mesa University’s Ruth Powell Hutchins Water Center is enhancing its education and outreach efforts thanks to a $110,000 grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Over the next two years, the funding will support four annual programs to prepare students for water-related careers and foster collaboration among Western Colorado’s water stakeholders to tackle resource challenges. Interim Director Freddy Witarsa will be facilitating the program.
“Deeply understanding the Colorado River Basin increases our ability as different stakeholders to collaborate and come up with solutions for regional water-related issues. These programs are meant to enhance our water literacy, connect with one another, and create a sustainable water future that addresses the needs of various communities in the region,” Witarsa explained.
One of the four initiatives, a spring speaker series, kicked off this spring semester to cover diverse water topics, from public drinking water safety to geothermal energy mapping. Talks will continue to be held every Wednesday from 4 to 5 pm in Dominguez Hall 111 through the spring semester. More information and a complete list of discussion topics through the spring can be found on the Water Center’s web page, coloradomesa.edu/water-center.
Another program, "Water 101" evening series, will offer CMU students and professionals the chance to earn academic or continuing education credits. These sessions, scheduled for April 10 and 17, culminate in the State of the River event co-sponsored by the Hutchins Water Center and the Colorado River District on April 22.
Additional funding will enhance CMU’s water curriculum based on workforce needs. The curriculum will help train the next generation of water professionals dedicated to water conservation, protection, and community education on the western slope and beyond.