Whos Who

Overview

This section of the wiki identifies many of the entities that fund, produce, translate, and use the science that is relevant to the Colorado River Basin and management of its resources.

These entities are grouped into these broad categories:

• Research programs
• Forecasters
• Water agencies
• Water user associations
• Other groups

Research programs

Program/Unit	University/Agency	City	State	Description
Center for Colorado River Studies	Utah State U.	Logan	UT	A nexus for innovative research, teaching, and outreach that informs management of the Colorado River and other major rivers of the American Southwest.
Western Water Assessment (WWA)	U. of Colorado Boulder	Boulder	CO	A university-based applied research program that addresses societal vulnerabilities to climate variability and climate change, particularly those related to water resources.
Research and Development Office	Reclamation	Denver	CO	By developing and applying science and technology, advances Reclamation's mission to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources.
Colorado River Basin R2O Program	Reclamation	Boulder	CO	Engages a variety of scientists and government agencies to collaborate on projects that advance Reclamation's use of climate information, hydrology, modeling, and decision science.
Climate Assessment for the Southwest (CLIMAS)	U. of Arizona (also New Mexico State U.)	Tucson	AZ	Promotes collaborative research involving scientists, decision makers, resource managers and users, educators, and others who need more and better information about climate and its impacts.
Water Resources Program	U. of New Mexico	Albuquerque	AZ	A center of expertise on water-related issues and training for environmental professionals, promoting fair, healthy and sustainable solutions to the challenges of water use in New Mexico and the Southwest.
Colorado Water Center	Colorado State U.	Fort Collins	CO	Leads interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach to address complex and evolving water-related challenges in Colorado and beyond.
Center for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions (CCASS)	U. of Arizona	Tucson	AZ	Brings together a wealth of expertise at the University of Arizona to support sound management choices in the context of climate change, linking science, information needs of managers, and decision-making.
Water Resources Research Center	U. of Arizona	Tucson	AZ	Tackles key water policy and management issues, empower informed decision-making, and enrich understanding through engagement, education, and applied research.
Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center	US Geological Survey	Flagstaff	AZ	Focuses its science efforts on the effects of operations from Glen Canyon Dam on the physical, biological and ecological processes and resources of the Colorado River downstream of the dam.
Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center	U. of Arizona; US Geological Survey	Tucson	AZ	Provides objective scientific information, tools, and techniques that land, water, wildlife, and cultural resource managers and other interested parties can apply to anticipate, monitor, and adapt to climate change impacts in the southwestern United States.
North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center	U. of Colorado; US Geological Survey	Boulder	CO	Fosters innovative and applied research in support of tribal, federal, state, and local natural resource management and decision-making, serving Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas and Nebraska.
Hutchins Water Center	Colorado Mesa U.	Grand Junction	CO	Performs and facilitates interdisciplinary and collaborative research, education, outreach, and dialogue to address the water issues facing the Upper Colorado River Basin.
Four Corners Water Center	Fort Lewis College	Durango	CO	An interdisciplinary center dedicated to contributing to solutions to our water challenges.
Getches-Wilkinson Center	U. of Colorado Boulder	Boulder	CO	A center of faculty and curriculum addressing environmental, energy, and natural resources law.
Water Utility Climate Alliance	12 member agencies; 4 using Colorado River water	Las Vegas	NV	Leverages collective water utility experiences to develop leading practices in climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Forecasting and monitoring

Unit/Program	University/Agency	City	State	Description
Colorado Basin River Forecast Center	National Weather Service, NOAA	Salt Lake City	UT	Streamflow, seasonal water supply, and flood forecasting
National Water and Climate Center	Natural Resources Conservation Service	Portland	OR	Coordination of SNOTEL snowpack monitoring; seasonal water supply forecasting
Arizona Snow Survey	Natural Resources Conservation Service	Phoenix	AZ	State-specific SNOTEL information and charts; water supply reports
New Mexico Snow Survey	Natural Resources Conservation Service		NM	State-specific SNOTEL information and charts; water supply reports
Utah Snow Survey	Natural Resources Conservation Service	Salt Lake City	UT	State-specific SNOTEL information and charts; water supply reports
Colorado Snow Survey	Natural Resources Conservation Service	Lakewood	CO	State-specific SNOTEL information and charts; water supply reports
Wyoming Snow Survey	Natural Resources Conservation Service	Casper	WY	State-specific SNOTEL information and charts; water supply reports
Intermountain West Regional Drought Early Warning System	National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS); NOAA	Boulder	CO	NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System; researches drought; national early drought warning system
Western Regional Climate Center	Desert Research Institute	Reno	NV	Climate services at national, regional, and state levels
Colorado Climate Center	Colorado State U.	Fort Collins	CO	Develops tools and methods to better communicate the climatology and climate variability of Colorado
Utah Climate Center	Utah State U.	Logan	UT	Facilitate access to climate data and information; to use expertise in atmospheric science; to interpret climate information in an accurate and innovative fashion
Wyoming State Climate Office	U. of Wyoming	Laramie	WY	Provides water and climate-related data in Wyoming
Colorado Dust on Snow Program	Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies	Silverton	CO	Applied science effort to monitor and record dust on snow in Colorado

Water Agencies

Agency	City	State	Description
Reclamation - Upper Colorado River Region	Salt Lake City	UT	Manages over 30 Upper Basin dams, reservoirs, and associated projects, including Lake Powell, Flaming Gorge, Navajo, Blue Mesa.
Reclamation - Lower Colorado River Region	Boulder City	NV	Manages Lower Basin reservoirs, including Lake Mead, and water distribution to major users, acting as "water master" for Lower Basin.
Reclamation - Boulder Canyon Operations Office	Boulder City	NV	Office within the Lower Colorado River Region that operates Lake Mead.
Central Arizona Project (CAP)	Phoenix	AZ	Operates the CAP canal and system, delivering water to the Phoenix valley, Tucson, Tribal nations, and non-tribal agricultural users.
Salt River Project	Phoenix	AZ	Delivers water and power to 2 million users in the Phoenix area, using CAP water, local, groundwater, and surface water from the Salt-Verde-Tonto Rivers.
Arizona Dept. of Water Resources	Phoenix	AZ	Protects, enhances, and conserves Arizona's water through 24 programs, including Colorado River Management.
Mohave County Water Authority	Bullhead City	AZ	Consortium of six municipalities and water districts in southwestern Arizona that rely on Colorado River water, focused on protecting those resources.
Tucson Water	Tucson	AZ	Water utility for Tucson; since the 1990s has shifted its supply from groundwater to mostly CAP water from the Colorado River.
Colorado River Board of California	Glendale	CA	Protect the interests and rights of the State of California in the water and power resources of the Colorado River system.
California Dept. of Water Resources	Sacramento	CA	Operates the State Water Project (SWP); when SWP allocations are reduced due to drought, a greater onus is put on MWD's Colorado River water.
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD)	Los Angeles	CA	A cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving 19 million people in the greater Los Angeles area; uses Colorado River water via the Colorado River Aqueduct.
San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA)	San Diego	CA	Collective of 24 water agencies in greater San Diego; about half of its water supply comes from the Colorado River via IID and MWD.
Imperial Irrigation District (IID)	Imperial	CA	Operates and maintains Imperial Dam and the All-American Canal; has rights to 2.6 maf/yr; provides water to agricultural and municipal users in the Imperial Valley, and also to SDCWA.
Colorado Water Conservation Board	Denver	CO	Works to conserve, develop, protect and manage Colorado's water; provides technical and financial assistance to water agencies throughout the state; lead state agency on Colorado River issues.
Denver Water	Denver	CO	Largest municipal provider in Colorado (1.3 million people); about half of its supply comes from Colorado River headwaters tributaries.
Northern Water	Berthoud	CO	Operates (with Reclamation) the Colorado-Big Thompson (C-BT) project, providing Colorado River water to 1 million people and 600,000 acres of agriculture in northeastern CO.
Colorado River District	Glenwood Springs	CO	Serves water users in 15 western slope counties through legal and legislative advocacy, technical and engineering support, community outreach and education, and water project grant funding.
Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District	Gunnison	CO	Develops, promotes, and implements water conservation, augmentation, and management strategies to protect water resources in the Upper Gunnison basin for the benefit of its citizens, the economy, and the environment.
Southwestern Water Conservation District	Durango	CO	Takes a broad strategic role to help water agencies and users across 9 counties protect, conserve, use and develop the water resources in southwestern Colorado.
Colorado River Commission of Nevada	Las Vegas	NV	Protects the rights and interests of Nevada’s allocation of Colorado River water; represents the state in local, state and federal water and environmental programs pertaining to the River.
Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA)	Las Vegas	NV	A consortium of seven water agencies that manages, treats, and delivers Nevada's share of the Colorado River to serve 2.2 million people in the Las Vegas area.
New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission	Albuquerque	NM	Protects, conserves, and develops New Mexico’s waters, focusing on the eight interstate water compacts for the state's basins, including the Colorado River Compact.
Utah Division of Water Resources	Salt Lake City	UT	Tasked with planning, conserving, developing and protecting Utah’s water resources, serving as the state's water steward.
Colorado River Authority of Utah	Salt Lake City	UT	Established in 2021; works to protect, preserve, conserve, and develop Utah’s Colorado River system interests.
Upper Colorado River Commission	Salt Lake City	UT	Ensures the appropriate allocation of water from the Colorado River to the Upper Division States of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico; provides technical support to water agencies through studies and reports.
Central Utah Water Conservancy District	Orem	UT	Manages the Central Utah Project (CUP), providing water to 1.5 million people across 8 counties, including the southern Wasatch Front.

Other Agencies

Name of unit	University/Agency	Location	URL	Description
Lower Colorado River Multispecies Conservation Program	Reclamation		https://www.lcrmscp.gov/index.html
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program	US Fish and Wildlife Service		https://coloradoriverrecovery.org/
Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum			https://www.coloradoriversalinity.org/
California Natural Resources Agency			https://resources.ca.gov/
International Boundary and Water Commission			https://www.ibwc.gov/home.html
Western Area Power Administration			https://www.wapa.gov/Pages/Western.aspx
Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program (GCDAMP)	Reclamation		https://www.usbr.gov/uc/progact/amp/index.html

Water Users

University/Agency	Location	URL	Description
Grand Valley Water Users Assocation	Grand Junction, CO	https://gvwua.com/	Manages diversions and deliveries on Western slope (CO) water projects
Colorado River Water Users Association		https://www.crwua.org/	Develop personal relationships to allow frank discussions of the many issues involving the Colorado River.

Environment-focused NGOs

Organization	Program (if applicable)	City	State	Description
Pronatura Noroeste		Ensenada	Baja California, Mex	The conservation of the flora, fauna and priority ecosystems of northwest Mexico
The Nature Conservancy	Colorado River Program	Boulder	CO	TNC is working hard across the entire Colorado River Basin to protect this amazing river and resource
Lincoln Institute for Land Policy	Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy	Phoenix	AZ	The Babbitt Center seeks to advance the integration of land and water management to meet the current and future water needs in the Colorado River Basin.
Walton Family Foundation		Bentonville	AR	Foundation with a core value to protect rivers and the communities they support
U. of Montana	Water & Tribes Initiative - Colorado River Basin	Missoula	MT	enhance tribal capacity and advance sustainable water management in the basin through collaborative decision-making
Western Resource Advocates	Protecting the Colorado River	Boulder	CO	identified common sense steps that will keep the Colorado River flowing and improve climate resilience to better manage future water shortages
American Rivers	Southwest Region	Denver	CO	advocate for rivers through community-based programs, collaborative strategies to support agriculture and municipalities, and legislative means like the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
Aspen Global Change Institute		Basalt	CO	-description-
Sonoran Institute	Colorado River Delta Program	Tucson	AZ	The Sonoran Institute and partners have been working in the Colorado River Delta to renew, restore, and reconnect its diverse ecosystems for the benefit of wildlife and people.
Living Rivers		Moab	UT	By articulating conservation and alternative management strategies to the public, seeks to revive the natural habitat and spirit of rivers by undoing the extensive damage done by dams, diversions and pollution on the Colorado Plateau.
Audubon	Western Water Initiative	Boulder	CO	Align bird habitat protection and restoration with more reliable water supplies for communities
	Mountain Studies Institute	Durango	CO	Mountain research and education center
Pacific Institute		Oakland	CO	Creates and advances solutions to the world's most pressing water challenges
Glen Canyon Institute				Organization supporting the natural ecosystems of Glen Canyon

Tribal Nations

Nation	Agency	Location	URL	Description
Navajo Tribal Utility Authority	Navajo Nation
	Southern Ute Tribe		https://www.southernute-nsn.gov/natural-resources/water-resources/	Water Resources Division
	AhaMakav Cultural Society /Fort Mohave Indian Tribe		https://www.fortmojaveindiantribe.com/tribal-departments/agriculture-land-water-resources/	Agriculture, Land, and Water resources
	Tohono O'odham Nation		http://www.tonation-nsn.gov/water-resources/	Water Resources
Dept. of Water Resources	Navajo Nation		https://www.nndwr.navajo-nsn.gov/	Department of Water Resources
	Quechan Indian Tribe		https://www.quechantribe.com/departments-environmental.html	Environmentla Department
	Jicarilla Apache Nation		https://tentribespartnership.org/tribes/jicarilla-apache-nation/
	Gila River Indian Community		https://www.gricdeq.org/	Department of Environmental Quality