Water Equity, Inclusivity and Diversity

Equity, diversity, and inclusivity challenges are critically important to understand. The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) is committed to making sure these discussions have a home in the Colorado Water Plan (CWCB) update. Here are a few ways CWCB is working to expand these conversations and collect input:


  • Share Your Thoughts - Have an idea you want to share around EDI challenges and opportunities? Use the idea tool below to provide your input. Let us know what's on your mind, where you see an opportunity, how we can expand our stakeholder contacts and/or what should be noted in the Colorado

Equity, diversity, and inclusivity challenges are critically important to understand. The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) is committed to making sure these discussions have a home in the Colorado Water Plan (CWCB) update. Here are a few ways CWCB is working to expand these conversations and collect input:


  • Share Your Thoughts - Have an idea you want to share around EDI challenges and opportunities? Use the idea tool below to provide your input. Let us know what's on your mind, where you see an opportunity, how we can expand our stakeholder contacts and/or what should be noted in the Colorado Water Plan update.

  • Attend the Fall Workshop - The CWCB is hosting the virtual Equity in Water Conference & Workshop with the Water Equity Task Force (details below) on September 30th. This workshop is open to the public, and will feature presentations, panel discussions, and an afternoon workshop exploring efforts to expand the dialogue around equity, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) in the Water Plan update. Please register here.

  • Learn About the Task Force - The Department of Natural Resources and CWCB announced a 20-person Water Equity Task Force (Task Force) in March 2021.* The Task Force was developed to help inform the Colorado Water Plan update and will help provide details on how a future workshop should be developed to bring more Coloradans into the discussion.

    *The Water Equity Task Force includes two members from each of the legislatively defined nine basin regions across Colorado (representing each of the eight major river basins as well as the metro area) with both a water-focused representative and a community-focused representative. The Task Force also includes one member from Colorado’s two federally recognized Native American Tribes - the Southern Ute and the Ute Mountain Ute tribes.

  • Equity in Water Conference & Workshop: September 30th

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    Please join us for a day of exploring efforts to expand the dialogue around equity, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) as the Colorado Water Conservation Board updates the Colorado Water Plan.

    MORNING CONFERENCE: At the morning conference, you’ll hear from a variety of presenters and panelists on their experiences as we explore how inclusivity makes us more resilient, bridging the rural-urban divide, tribal collaborations and more.

    AFTERNOON WORKSHOP: In the afternoon workshop session, share your perspective with members of the Water Equity Task Force as we explore some draft EDI principles that will help guide the Colorado Water Plan update. This event is virtual, free, and open to the public. Register here.

    Can't join? The conference will be recorded and available online after the event. You can submit your thoughts on EDI efforts, the Water Plan update, and more anytime using the idea tool on this page to provide your input.



  • First Task Force Meeting Announced

    The first meeting of the Water Equity Task Force will take place on May 18th from 11:00 - 1:00. The meeting will be held via Zoom and members of the public are welcome to listen in. Comments can also submitted at the meeting or anytime through engagecwcb.org.

  • Task Force Overview

    A one page document has been drafted to provide an overview of the Water Equity Task Force, which discusses some of the main areas the CWCB is hoping the task force can help explore. As noted in the document, this includes the task force helping to:

    1. Grow Networks beyond the existing stakeholder groups in Colorado to better reach a larger sample of the state’s population of 5.7 million. -
    2. Expand Grant Outreach to provide more access and opportunities for Colorado’s most disadvantaged populations.
    3. Enhance Communications by engaging with the public using a broader range of platforms in order to reach more Coloradans.
    4. Facilitate Future Discussions around the term “equity” and what that truly means to the public.
    5. Support Inclusivity by better understanding what people are concerned about and making them feel heard and welcomed.

      Note: The Water Equity Task Force is not: addressing water rights (i.e. water law, demand management); making policy decisions (there are no county commissioners, CWCB Board members or state legislators in this grassroots group); focusing only on one aspect of equity, inclusivity, and diversity (all components must be considered).

  • Water Equity Task Force Announced

    In March 2021 the Department of Natural Resources and the Colorado Water Consevation board sent a press release announcing the members of a new Water Equity Task Force.

    “In Colorado, water is the lifeblood of our state and critical for our economy, agriculture, wildlife and environment. This Task Force is another important piece in creating a Colorado for all and will inform our Colorado Water Plan by ensuring that future efforts in planning for Colorado’s water future are increasingly inclusive."

    -Governor Jared Polis

Page last updated: 01 September 2021, 18:11