C9 Summit

The C9 Summit is a collaborative gathering of Colorado’s diverse water stakeholders, including Basin Roundtable members, the Interbasin Compact Committee (IBCC), the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), and the public. Designed as a space for focused engagement, this summit supports renewed connection among Roundtables, the IBCC, and the CWCB Board, encourages knowledge-sharing across basins, broadens CWCB’s reach to new audiences, and provides a platform to address CWCB initiatives and discuss Roundtable challenges and opportunities. In addition to strengthening coordination and fostering relationship-building through interactive exercises and timely panel discussions, the C9 Summit also serves as an opportunity to consider the broader statewide vision for Colorado’s water future through exploration of emerging themes, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of water management in Colorado.

2025 C9 Summit Goals

Offer opportunities for knowledge-sharing across basins, and address questions raised by stakeholders, building better connections among the roundtables, IBCC, and the CWCB Board.

Create panels and interactive exercises that foster conversations, relationship-building, and advance timely CWCB initiatives

Explore emerging concepts of statewide importance through engaging panels and discussions

Register here for the 2025 C9 Summit

Hotel Room Block Information:

Colorado Water Conservation Board, C9 Summit

Start Date: Monday, October 27, 2025 // End Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Sheraton Denver West Hotel for 139.00 USD per night - Last Day to Book: Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Book your group rate for Colorado Water Conservation Board C9 Summit

2025 C9 Summit Agenda

Tuesday, October 28 - Day 1: General and Interactive Sessions

7:45	Breakfast
8:30	Welcome Dan Gibbs & Lauren Ris
9:00	20th Anniversary of the Water for the 21st Century Act Russ George Russ George’s vision and leadership through HB-1177, the Water for the 21st Century Act, forever shaped the structure of Colorado’s water community. By establishing the basin roundtables and the Interbasin Compact Committee, he created a durable framework for collaboration that has defined how Coloradans come together to navigate our most pressing water challenges. His wisdom built the foundation for dialogue, trust, and shared stewardship, and twenty years later we are honored to hear his reflections on where this remarkable journey has brought us and where it might lead.
9:30	Exploring A Future of No & Low Regrets Sean Cronin, Pat Wells & Angie Fowler In June 2025, the IBCC kicked off a new vision for Colorado’s water future. With growth and climate pressures mounting, this 10–15 year roadmap will zero in on the toughest challenges and biggest opportunities ahead. It will focus on strategies designed to position Colorado well under any future; safeguarding supplies, boosting resilience, supporting agriculture, and protecting rivers and recreation. By starting now, at the outset of the next statewide water planning cycle, Coloradans can have a voice in shaping the next plan and setting the course for a water-secure future.
9:50	How to Have New Hard Conversations (Interactive Exercise) Kelsea MacIlroy
10:40	Break
10:50	Peer-to-Peer Basin Roundtable Exchange (Interactive Exercise) Four concurrent sessions will discuss potential strategies that can help build-up the basin roundtables in ways that increase participation and optimize impact. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear all four sessions throughout this agenda item. Short presentations will showcase strategies adopted by basin roundtables and discussion will focus on peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and cultivating new ideas.
	*Prioritizing & Advancing Projects* Bailey Leppek & Lisa Darling
	*Marketing and Leveraging Public Education Participation & Outreach (PEPO)* Cassandra McCuen & Sally Cariveau
	*Roundtable Best Management Practices* Gracy Goodwin & Scott Griebling
	*Exploring Legislative Conversations* Steve Wolff & Sonja Chavez
12:30	Lunch
1:30	Messaging for a New Era of Water Brad Udall, Lindsey Hagen, Stacy Chesney & Lorelei Cloud. Moderated by Michael Elizabeth Sakas Communicating complex water issues in Colorado is more critical than ever in the face of a changing climate and the need to collaborate on innovative solutions. Panelists across different water disciplines and backgrounds will discuss how they approach crafting communication strategies and delivery mechanisms that inspire informed action for Colorado and the greater Southwest.
2:30	Break
3:00	Piloting Ditch Management Planning Raquel Flinker, Matt Stearns, Nathan Coombs & Jesse Kruthaupt. Moderated by Stacy Beaugh Panelists will explore common capacity challenges in ditch companies and agricultural operations that impact water insecurity. We will learn about examples of agricultural-focused business operation practices that lead to sound projects and protection of agricultural water uses.
4:00	Interstate Updates Becky Mitchell, Jason Ullmann & Amy Ostdiek Join Colorado Department of Natural Resources staff for timely updates and discussion of interstate water issues.
5:00	Water Aware Happy Hour and Appetizers

Wednesday, October 29 - Day 2: Targeted Stakeholder Meetings, Workshops, Lunch

8:00	Breakfast
8:30	PEPO Meeting
10:00	IBCC Workshop
12:00	Lunch

Register here

Past C9 agendas and audio/video (if available) are available to view on the right column of this page.