PEPO Workgroup.Created through the Colorado Water for the 21st Century Act, the Public Education, Participation and Outreach (PEPO) workgroup is responsible for:
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Our Goal"Our Goal is to inform, involve and educate the citizens of the Arkansas River Basin about local water resources"
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Our PurposeOur purpose is to provide Arkansas River Basin specific education and outreach to our citizens. We hope to engage the public on water resource topics and issues and provide a platform for water related dialogue. We strive to provide education and outreach for all water use components and meet the educational needs associated with municipal supply, irrigated agriculture, recreation, and the environment.
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Our PartnersThere are nine roundtables in the state of Colorado and each roundtable has a PEPO workgroup. The PEPO Workgroup in the Arkansas Basin is unique in structure and vision. The PEPO Workgroup works in partnership and provides a line of communication between the Interbasin Compact Committee (IBCC), Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), Arkansas Basin Roundtable (ABRT), Arkansas River Basin Water Forum (ARBWF), and the Public that they serve.
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Contact Us.
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Jean Van Pelt- PEPO Coordinator
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Amber Weber- PEPO Coordinator
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Programs and ProjectsThe Arkansas Basin PEPO Workgroup have been awarded several grants from 2016 - 2018 from the Colorado Water Conservation Board to provide education and outreach to the citizens in the Arkansas River Basin. The PEPO Workgroup identified the following tasks to provide this education:
In order to provide the best possible outreach for the citizens of the Arkansas Basin, the PEPO Workgroup has partnered with the Arkansas River Basin Water Forum (ARBWF). The ARBWF has been serving the educational needs of the Arkansas Basin for 25 years through an annual water forum that is held in a different Arkansas Basin location each year. To learn more about the ARBWF please use the link below. |
To educate water users about the importance of waterOf all of our projects, the documentary has had an incredible impact on our basin. Check it out and look out for the webisodes to supplement the documentary.
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Follow our WorkDocumentary
The Arkansas Basin PEPO Workgroup in partnership with Sam Ebersole from Colorado State University Pueblo have produced an hour-long documentary on the economic and social value of the Arkansas River from Leadville to Lamar. This documentary debuted on Rocky Mountain PBS on Thursday, May 31st at 8:00 pm. The documentary explores the many uses, benefits, needs, and issues associated with this precious resource. Webisodes on specific topics will be created to highlight water use components including: storage, municipal use, recreation, environment, conservation, watershed health, education and more... The documentary is designed to provide perspectives from all water users and water use components. It is our hope to provide insight on all aspects of water resources and shed a light on the many ways that we all depend on the Arkansas River. Water is a resource that we must all share and it is imperative that we join together to face our future water challenges. Storage Colorado’s Water Plan has set an objective of attaining 400,000 acre-feet of storage by 2050 and the Arkansas Basin Implementation Plan has set an objective of attaining 70,000 acre-feet of storage in the Basin by 2020. Colorado’s Water Plan has also set an objective to achieve 400,000 acre-feet of water conservation by 2050. For conservation to be effective the saved water must be stored for use during drier periods. In the same respect capturing water from a wet year to have available for a dry year also requires storage. Re-timing of the use of the water saved, newly imported or captured is essential since the availability of the appropriation does not coincide with the time of need. Thus storage is essential for the saved supply to meet demands. Storage and the management of storage is essential for the success of all water activities and the protection of water for future use. The need for improved storage techniques has become more acute than ever. Storing water underground is one of these new techniques and has the ability to be more efficient than storing water in surface reservoirs. This is because storing water underground minimizes evaporation, which is a major cause of water loss in surface reservoirs in arid climates such as ours. The Arkansas River Basin is working diligently to address our storage needs and find new innovative storage and management techniques to provide storage in the Arkansas River Basin while also protecting our cultural and environmental values. |
A R K A N S A S R I V E R B A S I N W A T E R F O R U M
Water is among the most endangered and critical natural resources in the state of Colorado. As such, it is imperative that we join together as we face future water challenges, collaborating and educating.
The Arkansas River Basin Water Forum provides a platform for education and earnest dialogue on water resource issues and needs. This annual event hosts approximately 200 representatives from the agricultural, municipal, industrial, environmental, recreational, and governmental sectors. This forum is open to the public and others from outside of the basin and serves as a beacon, guiding Colorado to a more efficient and sustainable future in water.
Water is among the most endangered and critical natural resources in the state of Colorado. As such, it is imperative that we join together as we face future water challenges, collaborating and educating.
The Arkansas River Basin Water Forum provides a platform for education and earnest dialogue on water resource issues and needs. This annual event hosts approximately 200 representatives from the agricultural, municipal, industrial, environmental, recreational, and governmental sectors. This forum is open to the public and others from outside of the basin and serves as a beacon, guiding Colorado to a more efficient and sustainable future in water.