CALL FOR PAPERS
Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference:
20 Years of Community and Hope
OCTOBER 7-9, 2025 at the WESTIN in AVON COLORADO
The Sustaining Colorado Watersheds (SCW) conference has been held annually for the past 19 years to bring together knowledgeable and engaged community members, scientists, ecologists, water managers, educators, community leaders, young professionals, policymakers, and regulators to share knowledge, network, and discuss current issues facing Colorado’s watersheds. We are excited to present the theme for the 2025 conference: 20 Years of Community and Hope.
As always, the conference aims to explore innovative and inclusive approaches to watershed management that address the unique challenges we face in Colorado. This year’s 20 Years of Community and Hope theme emphasizes the relentless nature of change and the need for adaptation, as well as the challenges of bringing about desired change.
We look forward to hearing from you to help shape this year’s conference! We encourage you to consider whether you have something meaningful to share with conference attendees to help advance the conversation and our collective practice. Submissions are due by May 19, 2025, 11:59 pm MDT. The Conference Planning Committee will meet to discuss which submissions work best with this year's theme and will contact you by late June or early July to share whether or not your abstract has been accepted. We will prioritize presentations that connect to the conference theme and sub-themes, including:
Community, Collaboration & Self-Care
How we sustain not just our watersheds, but also ourselves and each other through wellness practices, community engagement, and cross-sector collaboration.Forward-Thinking Approaches to Watershed Management
Innovations in land use planning, water quality protection, streamflow restoration, flood and drought resilience, forest health, stormwater management, and more.Engaging Formats & Shared Learning
Participatory sessions that foster dialogue—fewer PowerPoints, more group Q&A, storytelling, and problem-solving.Adapting in Uncertain Times
How watershed groups, communities, and agencies are responding to challenges—from climate variability to policy shifts—and building hope through action.What’s Working & What’s Next
Success stories from the field, including Prop JJ-funded efforts, mine remediation, permitting strategies, and models that are scaling up impact.Unlikely Partnerships
How collaborations—especially with the private sector or across unexpected sectors—are filling gaps and driving change.
Within the sub-themes, the agenda will include a range of topics from forest health to flood risk management, mine remediation to drought resiliency, streamflow protection to land use planning, river restoration to stormwater management, project permitting to water quality protection, and more. Submitting an abstract will help guide conference planning and inspire creativity in developing the agenda.
Please submit abstracts for presentations for, "20 Years of Community and Hope" by May 19, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
Submissions should include:
1) Presentation title (15 words max)
2) Short overview of your presentation, including how it connects to this year’s conference theme and sub-themes (300 words max)
3) Format: Indicate if you prefer a 30-minute oral presentation, 60- 90 minute panel, a poster presentation, or an interactive workshop.*
*Note: Your submission may be selected for a format other than your stated preference.
Through presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities, the conference will provide a platform for participants to learn about and share their experiences and ideas on how to sustain Colorado's watersheds for future generations. The conference will also provide opportunities to engage with experts in the field, collaborate on new initiatives, and explore innovative approaches to watershed management that move us confidently into the future.
The Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference is cooperatively hosted by the following partners:
