June 5th and 6th: 2025 Conference on the Colorado River
The Getches-Wilkinson Center and Water & Tribes Initiative will be co-convening the 2025 Conference on the Colorado River on Thurs, June 5th and Fri, June 6th at the Wolf Law Building in Boulder, CO.
Turning Hindsight into Foresight: The Colorado River at a Crossroads
Once again, the Colorado River is at a crossroads, as the efforts to finalize the post-2026 rules push up squarely against longstanding conflicts, legal interpretations, and notions of equity and inclusivity. Complicating progress is the narrow focus on reservoir operating rules, and the tradition of pushing the thorniest issues to future discussions in largely undetermined forums and unknown schedules. In this event, we assess the current state of progress, focusing specifically on the degree to which emerging steps forward incorporate the lessons learned through past experiences.
We hope you join us for what will be sure to be an engaging 2-day conference bringing together thought leaders from across the Colorado Basin.
Thursday, June 5th and Friday, June 6th
8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Wolf Law Building, Wittemyer Courtroom
Breakfast, Snack and Lunch provided daily
Attendee reception provided on Thurs, June 5th
In person and remote registration available.
Colorado CLE general credits are pending approval.
Important registration dates:
Registration Opens Wed, January 15
Early Bird ENDS May 1
No refunds after May 15
Registration closes May 29 (one week prior to conference)
Conference Agenda (subject to change)
THURSDAY, JUNE 5
Session 1:Modern Challenges Through a Historical Lens. The Colorado River community is now laser focused on the need to adopt new operating rules by the summer of 2026. At this important inflection point in the basin, it is useful to look back, reflect on lessons learned, and turn hindsight into foresight to ensure that the actions we take now are appropriate for the ever-evolving challenges we face in the basin. The session will start by focusing on lessons learned by some of the basin’s first inhabitants: the Ancient Puebloans. It will then review the history of subsequent human settlement in the basin, exploring the legal and institutional principles that shape current opportunities and constraints to achieving a more sustainable future relationship between the people and the river. The discussion concludes with a review of the agreements expiring at the end of 2026: the Interim Guidelines, Minute 319 and the DCPs (drought contingency plans). Each of these frameworks have had successful elements, but each have had shortcomings. This interactive panel will highlight lessons learned, procedurally and substantively, identified by a number of people involved in those decision-making processes.
Session 2:The Aridification of Agriculture. The contributions of agriculture to the socioeconomic fabric of the basin are significant, but the mathematic reality is that it’s likely impossible to balance the regional water budget without major reductions in agricultural water consumption. This session frames the current role of agriculture in shaping the region’s water budget, highlights the practical challenge of funding the inevitable transition, and identifies some on-the-ground pathways for moving forward to a more sustainable future.
FRIDAY, JUNE 6
Session 3: Updates from the Tribes. Thirty tribes in the basin have strong interests (and legal rights) in how Colorado River management evolves. What are some of the most pressing concerns and demands?
Session 4: Rethinking Infrastructure: Glen Canyon Dam/Lake Powell. “What the River Knows” is a new film exploring how declining Lake Powell levels have resurfaced many environmental and cultural resources in and around Glen Canyon, and what opportunities and imperatives that might suggest for the future of Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. This is the first “pre-screening” of the film, followed by a panel discussion.
Session 5: Updates from theBasin States. Reaching consensus on new Colorado River policy has become increasingly difficult for the basin states, who enjoy (and are burdened by) a central role in steering management forward.
Session 6: Looking Beyond the Rule-Making. While the crafting of new reservoir operational rules is the current focus of most attention and debate, thinking longer-term, the basin has several, more fundamental, issues that will demand thoughtful discussion and resolution, a longer-term challenge that will necessitate cultivating new ideas and leadership. In the spirit of turning hindsight into foresight, how do we move past the latest exercise in incremental, crisis management to achieve a healthy, just, and sustainable Colorado River?
Confirmed Speakers
Anne Castle, Getches-Wilkinson Center
Becky Mitchell, Colorado's Colorado River Commissioner
Brad Udall, Colorado State University
Brian Richter, Sustainable Waters
Celene Hawkins, The Nature Conservancy
Clint Chandler, Arizona Department of Water Resources
Craig Childs, Author
Elizabeth Koebele, University of Nevada
Eric Balken, Glen Canyon Institute
Eric Kuhn, Author
Jason Hauter, Attorney for Gila River Indian Community
Jason Robison, University of Wyoming College of Law
Jay Weiner, Attorney for the Quechan Tribe
JB Hamby, Colorado River Board of California
Jennifer Pitt, Audubon
Jim Lochhead, Consultant
John Entsminger, Southern Nevada Water Authority
John Fleck, University of New Mexico
John Weisheit, Living Rivers
Lorelei Cloud, Southern Ute Indian Tribe
Mike Connor, Consultant
Patty Limerick, University of Colorado
Perry Cabot, Colorado Water Center, Colorado State University
Peter Culp, Culp & Kelly, LLP
Peter Ortego, Acadian Desert Consulting
Governor Stephen Roe Lewis, Gila River Indian Community
Terri Bissonette, Tribal Leadership Programs, NWF/WTI
Hotel Information
GWC has secured a hotel room block at the Residence Inn Canyon Blvd in Boulder for Wed, June 4 - Sat, June 7.. To book over the phone, please call 1-800-228-9290 to make the reservation and be sure to mention the mini-hotel code "GWR" to ensure you receive the discounted rate. The room block is available on a first come, first serve basis and is valid until May 7th or until all rooms are filled.
Thank you to our 2025 Conference Partners:
Walton Family Foundation
Conscience Bay Company
Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti, LLP
Would you, your company or organization like to become a 2025 Conference Partner?
Learn more here about the benefits of supporting the upcoming conference!
