2024 Water Fluency Program
Registration for the 2024 Water Fluency program is now closed. We appreciate the high level of interest shown and look forward to announcing the 2025 program schedule in the new year. Stay tuned for other 2024 Water Education Colorado programs here.
Now in its 10th year, the Water Fluency Program curriculum covers statewide water topics blended with local examples as we travel around the state each year to bring the most current examples of innovative water practices. This year we will be showcasing water management examples from the Upper Colorado River Basin. Participants from across Colorado will benefit from the content, not just participants from the class location area. You can access our program flyer for an overview of the program.
Water Fluency Program Format
This comprehensive program provides an opportunity for participants to learn about water through five program days with highly sought-out lectures, discussions, exclusive access to water sector leaders, breakout networking opportunities, a complete set of WEco’s Citizen’s/Community Guides, reading assignments, and additional coursework. Curriculum includes:
- Colorado’s water resources: basic hydrology, the role of water in society, the economic value of water, ties to public policy, and emerging issues
- Legal and institutional frameworks: water law and administration, project planning and approval, interbasin projects, and agreements
- Water resource management: watershed health, environmental protection, water quality, and natural disasters
- Colorado water for the future: assessing supply and meeting demand, ecosystem values, conservation and land use, alignment of resources, growing populations, varied climates and policies
2024 Water Fluency Program Schedule
Session 1: May 21 (virtual)
Session 2: June 27 (virtual)
Session 3: July 31 – August 1 (2 in-person days in Winter Park)
Session 4: September 11 (virtual)
The program sessions will be a combination of virtual and in-person as outlined above. To receive your certificate of completion for this program, you must attend all program days. The virtual sessions will typically run from 9:00am – 3:00pm with a lunch break and the in-person session days will run from approximately 9:00am – 4:00pm.
Water Fluency Program Participants
The Water Fluency Program is designed so anyone who is interested in learning more about water can participate. There will be pre-session homework that will bring someone coming from any knowledge level up to speed and prepared to engage in the classroom program days. Pre-session homework will be emailed to all participants in April to give everyone plenty of time to prepare for the first session. You can anticipate getting 25 hours of program content through the session days, and to spend about 10 hours on suggested homework over the 5-month program timeframe.
The typical Water Fluency Program participant is involved with making decisions about water, but does not have the background to feel comfortable making those decisions. Examples of past participants are city/county staff, elected officials, someone new to Colorado water but has worked in water in other states, a water professional who has been promoted into a position with decision making responsibilities but never had formal water education/training, interested community members, business leaders, educators, special district staff, and more! If you are questioning if this program is for you, please give us a call and we can help you decide.
Program Cost
Tuition is $1,500 and includes all materials and resources needed, access to online content, staff support, lunch/beverages/snacks during the in-person sessions, and exclusive site visits.
Scholarships are also available to support participation in the Water Fluency Program! Scholarships range from covering 25% up to 75% of tuition.
Scholarships for Water Fluency are competitive, and applicants are not guaranteed to receive a scholarship. Priority will be given to public officials and non-profit employees. We will also consider the diversity applicants add to the class in our scholarship decisions. In addition, 8 scholarships are made possible by the Special District Association of Colorado for their members.
Registration for 2024 Water Fluency is now closed! Please keep an eye out for announcements about the 2025 program schedule.
Want to know more?
Contact Sabrina White with questions.
With thanks to our sponsors
Title sponsors:
Program Session Sponsors:
Northern Water
Southwestern Water Conservation District