By Shannon Lukens.
The Colorado Water Congress Summer Conference has 400 water leaders from across the state attending, at the Steamboat Grand in Steamboat Springs. Issues being discussed include drought, the Colorado River, water conservation and the health of the forests.
U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper spoke on Wednesday.
“The entire U.S. Senate recognizes that the west is in a widespread drought, so it’s all hands on deck. We’ve got to get Republicans and Democrats working together and in meaningful ways if we are ever going to make progress.”
Other speakers Wednesday included Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser who is in Craig Thursday at CNCC. There is a ribbon-cutting on the Cyber Range which is the cyber security program.
Weiser’s opponent in the November election is Republican John Kellner who also spoke Wednesday at the Colorado Water Congress. Kellner is the current District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District.
Governor Jared Polis was one of the speakers Tuesday, as was his opponent, Republican Gov. Candidate Heidi Ganahl. They both spoke about water and other issues in the state.
U.S. Senator Michael Bennet also spoke at the conference that water here in the west should be on the national agenda in Washington.
“I would say the future of the American West is what is at stake. And that is a national issue. And we’re going to need federal resources to help us. We don’t want the federal government telling us what to do. That’s a mistake. But we’re going to need federal resources to help implement the decisions that we make.”
Senator Bennet’s opponent in the Senate is Republican Candidate Joe O’Dea, who also spoke at the conference.
“I’m going to put Colorado over politics. And that’s what Coloradoans want. They want somebody to represent their state and that’s what I’ll do. This is Colorado. We need to make great decisions for Colorado.”
The Colorado Water Conference wraps up Thursday at the Steamboat Grand.