December 3rd, 2024 | Getting the Lead Out Through Cross-Sector Partnerships - Community leaders and water utilities nationwide are facing a common challenge: the prevalence of lead service lines. Last month, the US EPA issued a final rule requiring drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace all lead pipes within a decade. Many utility leaders are grappling with how to accomplish this, knowing that there may be tens of thousands of lead pipes in their systems. One Water approaches that prioritize collaboration between utilities and the communities they serve offer a transformative way of addressing this daunting task. Learn more or register HERE.
December 3rd, 2024 | Preserving Dinetah: Water Security for Generations, the Nation’s Water Settlements Currently before Congress - Please join the Navajo Nation Department of Justice, the American Indian Law Program and the Getches-Wilkinson Center for a timely discussion regarding the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024. The focus of the presentation and conversation will be the importance of water access for the Navajo Nation, the challenges associated with accessing clean water, planning and infrastructure projects, and a particular focus on current bills submitted to Congress that would comprehensively settle the Navajo Nation’s Arizona water rights as well as multiple basins in New Mexico. Join the Zoom call HERE.
December 3rd, 2024 | EPA Creating Resilient Water Utilities Initiative's National Webinar Series on Climate Impacts and Solutions for the Water Sector - Session 1: Utility Success Stories Roundtable, 11am - 1pm MST - EPA's CRWU Initiative is excited to offer a new webinar series focused on the experiences of drinking water and wastewater utilities dealing with climate- and weather-related impacts and vulnerabilities, funding challenges and workable solutions. Hear how other utilities are using CRWU's tools and information. To register, click HERE.
December 5th, 2024 | EPA Creating Resilient Water Utilities Initiative's National Webinar Series on Climate Impacts and Solutions for the Water Sector - Session 2: Climate Impacts Panel, 11am - 1pm MST - EPA's CRWU Initiative is excited to offer a new webinar series focused on the experiences of drinking water and wastewater utilities dealing with climate- and weather-related impacts and vulnerabilities, funding challenges and workable solutions. Hear how other utilities are using CRWU's tools and information. To register, click HERE.
December 10th, 2024 | EPA Creating Resilient Water Utilities Initiative's National Webinar Series on Climate Impacts and Solutions for the Water Sector - Session 3: Success in Adaptation Funding, 11am - 1pm MST - EPA's CRWU Initiative is excited to offer a new webinar series focused on the experiences of drinking water and wastewater utilities dealing with climate- and weather-related impacts and vulnerabilities, funding challenges and workable solutions. Hear how other utilities are using CRWU's tools and information. To register, click HERE.
December 11th, 2024 | What are USDA - NRCS Water Management Entities (WMEs)? - Eligible non-profit irrigation companies and ditch consortiums may contract directly with USDA - NRCS to implement conservation projects through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This webinar will compare and contrast contracting with the NRCS as a Water Management Entity (WME) versus as individual shareholders on a ditch. Register HERE.
December 12th, 2024 | EPA Creating Resilient Water Utilities Initiative's National Webinar Series on Climate Impacts and Solutions for the Water Sector - Session 4: CREAT 101: Adaptation Tools, 11am - 1pm MST - EPA's CRWU Initiative is excited to offer a new webinar series focused on the experiences of drinking water and wastewater utilities dealing with climate- and weather-related impacts and vulnerabilities, funding challenges and workable solutions. Hear how other utilities are using CRWU's tools and information. To register, click HERE.
January 8th, 2025 | Aluminum Workgroup Meeting from 10 - 11am. Kickoff meeting to recap previous meetings, discuss data needs, and solicit input for additional topics. Join the Zoom meeting HERE.
January 27th & 28th, 2024 | National Stormwater Center - Colorado CSI MS4 Webinar. Designed for Municipal personnel (MS4), this course will focus on permit regulations and compliance to restore and maintain the waters of the United States. Permits require certifying officials to select qualified stormwater personnel. Gain an in-depth understanding of stormwater permits, the six minimum control measures, how to conduct inspections, and the authority, demeanor, and discretion of stormwater inspectors to enhance your credentials.
June 4th, 2025 | Aluminum Workgroup Meeting from 10 - 11:30am. Bob Gensemer will summarize this year's data and highlight any trends or findings. Any additional topics suggested by the workgroup will also be presented. Join the Zoom meeting HERE.
The Community Wildfire Mitigation Best Practices training is designed to increase the skills of the professional mitigation practitioner and individuals who run mitigation programs. Participation in the 9-week virtual course is not guaranteed as we endeavor to provide training to individuals who lead or have responsibility for community wildfire mitigation programs. Acceptance is on a per person basis and is not transferable to another person. If there are multiple people from an organization signing up please ensure they sign up individually. Please complete this form if you are interested in being considered for the CWMBP training. Application forms are accepted on a rolling basis and added to a review list. As we schedule new classes, we will email next-steps to everyone listed. For questions about upcoming class or for assistance with this form email wendie.warner@co-co.org. Fill out the interest form HERE.
EPA Office of Water's Understanding Climate Change Impact on Water Resources Module — The EPA Office of Water has recently updated and relaunched their Understanding Climate Change Impact on Water Resources Module. This module explains the causes of climate change, its potential impacts on water resources, and the challenges water resource managers face. It was produced by EPA’s Watershed Academy, which publishes educational webinars and publications about watershed management. The updated module reflects the findings of the Fifth National Climate Assessment (2023) and Office of Water's Climate Adaptation Implementation Plan (2022). Regional information on climate change impacts in the United States is also provided in the course. To learn more, click HERE.
EPA's Office of Research and Development and Office of Water host this free webinar series to communicate current research, regulatory information, and solutions for challenges facing small drinking water systems. See the upcoming schedule or past recordings HERE.
Webinar Recording: Overview of Prescribed Fire Liability in State Law. Lawyer Sara Clark provides an overview of prescribed fire liability in state law, including definitions of liability and how state laws defining liability interact with certified burn manager programs, tribal sovereignty and cultural burning, and prescribed fire insurance. This webinar is intended for those who are new to the issue of prescribed fire liability or those more experienced who would like an overview of the subject, especially anyone about to engage on similar policy initiatives in their state or jurisdiction.
Online Course: Leave No Trace 101 Course. This is an introduction to Leave No Trace and the actions we can collectively take to protect our planet. In this course we share helpful information with a simple framework of minimum impact practices to apply when spending time outdoors.
Watershed Academy’s new Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management Module Ready - The EPA Watershed Academy has released their new Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management Module. This module is intended for water quality and hazard mitigation professionals that are interested in integrating water quality issues and/or nature-based solutions into state or local Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMPs) and highlights the benefits of working across water quality and hazard mitigation programs. Modules in this series can be used as training tools to help planners from both worlds explore activities of mutual interest and benefit. Case studies and examples are provided to assist hazard mitigation planners with integrating water resource programs into HMPs and help watershed planners understand the synergies between water resource plans and HMPs. Visit this link to begin the course!
The Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership presents 14 videos to help community members learn about how water is managed, restored and monitored in the upper Uncompahgre River watershed. Take advantage of this education resource to learn about your watershed including mine reclamation, water monitoring, recreational use, water conservation, drinking water and wastewater treatment and distribution, aquatic life, water scarcity, agricultural use, management, infrastructure, and more. Watch the video series HERE.
The American Stormwater Institute, LLC now offers live and online courses that deal with developing the knowledge and skills required to conduct stormwater inspections. Our courses are based on a “Real World” attitude of finding implementable solutions to the challenges that stormwater inspectors face every day. The state and federal regulations require that “QUALIFIED PERSONS” conduct inspections related to stormwater permits. The overarching goal of the ASI classes is to ensure that our students are well qualified to conduct these inspections. For a list of all classes offered click HERE.
Non-standard MS4 Permit PDD Template and Program Strategy Templates. SPLASH members and SEMSWA worked with CP Compliance to create resources to educate permittees. It may also assist permittees with the implementation of the new Non-standard MS4 Permit. Please click HERE to access the material.
Introducing the brand new NRCareers.org: Your ultimate resource for career development in the environmental sector. You may have been familiar with the PDF "A How-To Guide for Pursuing a Career in Natural Resources." This website contains all the same great information from the original PDF, but now you can search the content directly and enjoy quicker updates without needing to download a lengthy guide! The newly redesigned website, developed by CAEE and the Colorado Youth Corps Association, include career possibilities, who hires, how to apply, and career prep.
The Clean Water Certificate (CWC) Training Program is the first in the nation ANAB-accredited green infrastructure and stormwater training program. The CWC Training Program is now being offered through the CWPA Membership Program. The purpose of the training program is to provide high-quality training opportunities that provides job growth in the stormwater industry and delivers industry-specific job-readiness skills for the under- or unemployed , or currently employed adults seeking to expand their skillset. Learn moreHERE