Belanger, Laura 1
1 Western Resource Advocates
The West is a special place with remarkable natural resources, a high quality of life, and a strong economy that continue to attract new residents. In Colorado our population is projected to double by 2050 from 2010 levels. However our water supplies are limited and must be shared by municipalities, industry, agriculture, recreational interests and the environment – a complex feat. How do we ensure we have sufficient water supplies now and into the future while protecting the things that make the West so special? Diverse groups of stakeholders work to address these issues on a daily basis in forums across that West – and technical expertise and information is crucial to these processes. Western Resource Advocates and other conservation organizations rely on policy, science, and economics to influence policy and projects, helping ensure our streams and rivers continue to flow. Success requires working collaboratively and developing and promoting realistic and defensible solutions. Several examples of past and ongoing projects and the important role a hydrology background plays will be shared.