7:45 – 8:35 a.m. — The NISP Decision

What are the pros and cons of plans to increase storage? Our panel includes officials from Northern Water, municipal leaders and other experts to obtain “balanced viewpoints” on NISP, Halligan and Seaman.

Moderator:

Jennifer Gimbel,  senior water policy scholar, Colorado Water Institute, Colorado State University

Panelists:

LeRoy Poff, professor of biology, Colorado State University

Wade Troxell, mayor, city of Fort Collins

Brian Werner, public information officer, Northern Water

8:45 – 9:35 a.m. — Banking on Water

Northern Colorado business leaders for decades have weighed the benefits of a water bank to acquire water rights and preserve them for use within the region, rather than have metro-Denver communities such as Thornton acquire those rights and remove the water. What are the chances that a regional water bank will come to fruition?

Moderator:

Peter Nichols, partner, Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP

Panelists:

Ray Caraway, president, Community Foundation of Northern Colorado

Sean Chambers, director of water and sewer, city of Greeley

Richard Seaworth, owner, Seaworth Farms

Eric Wilkinson, former general manager, Northern Water

9:45 – 10:35 a.m. — Rising Prices

Prices for Colorado-Big Thompson water have soared in recent years. What effect does that have on development in the region, including on the cost of housing as the region strives to accommodate an increasing population?

Moderator:

Tamara Graham, civil design group leader — Northern Colorado, Lamp Rynearson

Panelists:

Dr. Marie Livingston, Professor Emerita of Economics — Ag, University of Northern Colorado

Chris Matkins, general manager, Fort Collins/Loveland Water District

Kevin McCarty, owner, McCarty Land & Water Valuation, Inc.

Mike Scheid, general manager, ELCO — East Larimer County Water District