Stay tuned for the 2021 SPF Conference Program
2019 Conference Program - Thursday
Thursday, October 24th, 2019
Speaker Bios
Alternative Transfer Methods in the South Platte Basin: Stories from the Field
Alexander Funk
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Alex Funk serves as the Agricultural Water Resources Specialist at the Colorado Water Conservation Board. At CWCB, he works with the agricultural community to further the Colorado Water Plan agricultural viability goals, including managing the alternative transfer methods program. Before joining CWCB, Alex served as the Western Policy Director with the National Young Farmers Coalition where he focused on addressing challenges affecting next-generation producers and as a fellow with American Rivers researching the nexus between irrigated agriculture and healthy river systems. Alex received a B.S. in Environmental Policy and Planning from Virginia Tech and Juris Doctorate from Vermont Law School.
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Alex Funk serves as the Agricultural Water Resources Specialist at the Colorado Water Conservation Board. At CWCB, he works with the agricultural community to further the Colorado Water Plan agricultural viability goals, including managing the alternative transfer methods program. Before joining CWCB, Alex served as the Western Policy Director with the National Young Farmers Coalition where he focused on addressing challenges affecting next-generation producers and as a fellow with American Rivers researching the nexus between irrigated agriculture and healthy river systems. Alex received a B.S. in Environmental Policy and Planning from Virginia Tech and Juris Doctorate from Vermont Law School.
Todd Doherty
Western Water Partnerships
Todd Doherty is the president and founder of Western Water Partnerships (WWP), a Colorado Public Benefit Corporation with the mission of preserving irrigated agricultural lands by facilitating water sharing agreements between farmers, ranchers, municipal water providers, open space departments and local governments. Mr. Doherty has over 20 years of experience in western water management and policy at the state and local levels. Using market-based approaches, WWP provides a vehicle for entities to help create a West where cities and farms/ranches coexist while supporting local agricultural production and sustainable communities.
Western Water Partnerships
Todd Doherty is the president and founder of Western Water Partnerships (WWP), a Colorado Public Benefit Corporation with the mission of preserving irrigated agricultural lands by facilitating water sharing agreements between farmers, ranchers, municipal water providers, open space departments and local governments. Mr. Doherty has over 20 years of experience in western water management and policy at the state and local levels. Using market-based approaches, WWP provides a vehicle for entities to help create a West where cities and farms/ranches coexist while supporting local agricultural production and sustainable communities.
Dale Trowbridge
New Cache La Poudre Irrigation Company
Dale Trowbridge is the general manager of the New Cache La Poudre Irrigating Company and its subsidiaries. He has 20 years of experience managing irrigation and reservoir facilities and has been a farmer and cattle feeder in the region for many years.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Management from Colorado State University in 1981.
Trowbridge was involved in Cache La Poudre’s construction of the Cornish Plains Reservoir northeast of Greeley in 2005. The project provided an additional 3,000 acre-feet of water storage and increased the efficiency of the canal system.
In 2014, he was appointed to the Northern Water and Municipal Subdistrict boards.
New Cache La Poudre Irrigation Company
Dale Trowbridge is the general manager of the New Cache La Poudre Irrigating Company and its subsidiaries. He has 20 years of experience managing irrigation and reservoir facilities and has been a farmer and cattle feeder in the region for many years.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Management from Colorado State University in 1981.
Trowbridge was involved in Cache La Poudre’s construction of the Cornish Plains Reservoir northeast of Greeley in 2005. The project provided an additional 3,000 acre-feet of water storage and increased the efficiency of the canal system.
In 2014, he was appointed to the Northern Water and Municipal Subdistrict boards.
Carmen Farmer
Colorado Open Lands
Carmen Farmer is the Conservation Project Manager for Colorado Open Lands, a statewide Land Trust that works to conserve productive farm and ranchland. The Northern Front Range and Lower South Platte River Basin is a priority area for Colorado Open Lands and is where Carmen works with producers to find creative ways to keep their land in production for future generations. Her current work focuses on pairing Alternative Transfer Mechanisms (ATM’s) with conservation easements, helping producers to diversify operations while keeping productive land irrigated.
Colorado Open Lands
Carmen Farmer is the Conservation Project Manager for Colorado Open Lands, a statewide Land Trust that works to conserve productive farm and ranchland. The Northern Front Range and Lower South Platte River Basin is a priority area for Colorado Open Lands and is where Carmen works with producers to find creative ways to keep their land in production for future generations. Her current work focuses on pairing Alternative Transfer Mechanisms (ATM’s) with conservation easements, helping producers to diversify operations while keeping productive land irrigated.
Paradigm Shifts on Saving Water - From Marginal to Mainstream
Damien Higham
Denver Water Conservation Reuse Section
Damian Higham has his B.S. in Chemical Engineering and has 18 years of experience in the water sector. He now works for Denver Water’s recycled water program as a senior planner. His duties include regulatory development, permitting, capital planning, customer marketing and compliance assurance. He is a past president of WateReuse Colorado and chair of the joint reuse committee of RMSAWWA/RMWEA.
Denver Water Conservation Reuse Section
Damian Higham has his B.S. in Chemical Engineering and has 18 years of experience in the water sector. He now works for Denver Water’s recycled water program as a senior planner. His duties include regulatory development, permitting, capital planning, customer marketing and compliance assurance. He is a past president of WateReuse Colorado and chair of the joint reuse committee of RMSAWWA/RMWEA.
Drew Beckwith
City of Westmisnter
Drew Beckwith works in the Business Operations group for the City of Westminster's Public Works & Utilities department. His main responsibilities include helping set and charge tap fees on all new development - money in - and directing the city's water efficiency and low-income programs - money out. Previously, he worked at Western Resource Advocates on water conservation and Colorado River policy issues across the southwest.
City of Westmisnter
Drew Beckwith works in the Business Operations group for the City of Westminster's Public Works & Utilities department. His main responsibilities include helping set and charge tap fees on all new development - money in - and directing the city's water efficiency and low-income programs - money out. Previously, he worked at Western Resource Advocates on water conservation and Colorado River policy issues across the southwest.
Frank Kinder
Northern Water
Frank is the Water Efficiency Program Manager at Northern Water, a conservancy district serving just under 1 million people in the Northern Front Rage. His team serves the District’s urban water users with programs that include Landscape Consultations, Irrigation Audits, Industry Certification and Training, Public Education and Outreach, Conservation Events, offering Collaborative Landscape Efficiency Grants, and managing a showcase demonstration Garden and Weather Network Data. He was formerly a Senior Conservation Specialist at Colorado Springs Utilities, a consultant for the US military at US Army Garrison Fort Carson and worked in the private sector IT field. He has a bachelor’s in Finance/IT and master’s in Geography and Environmental Studies emphasizing Sustainable Development. Professional certifications include Watershed Wise Landscape Professional, Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper, and EPA WaterSense New Home Inspector. His interests include green building, local food, history and museums, mountain hikes, and all things water.
Northern Water
Frank is the Water Efficiency Program Manager at Northern Water, a conservancy district serving just under 1 million people in the Northern Front Rage. His team serves the District’s urban water users with programs that include Landscape Consultations, Irrigation Audits, Industry Certification and Training, Public Education and Outreach, Conservation Events, offering Collaborative Landscape Efficiency Grants, and managing a showcase demonstration Garden and Weather Network Data. He was formerly a Senior Conservation Specialist at Colorado Springs Utilities, a consultant for the US military at US Army Garrison Fort Carson and worked in the private sector IT field. He has a bachelor’s in Finance/IT and master’s in Geography and Environmental Studies emphasizing Sustainable Development. Professional certifications include Watershed Wise Landscape Professional, Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper, and EPA WaterSense New Home Inspector. His interests include green building, local food, history and museums, mountain hikes, and all things water.
Watershed Planning - If You Don’t Know Where You’re Going You Won’t Get There
Sean Cronin
St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District
Sean is the Executive Director for the St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District. He has 20 plus years experience in water resource planning and policy. Sean earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and spent two years as a Natural Resources Agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service before moving to Colorado. Prior to joining the District, Sean spent 13 years with the City of Greeley, including the last six as their Water Resources Manager.
Sean serves on the Interbasin Compact Committee (IBCC), is the past chair of the South Platte Basin Roundtable, and serves on the Loveland Utilities Commission. Sean is a recipient of the Colorado Foundation for Water Education – Emerging Leader Award, Colorado Water Congress POND Leader of the Year Award, and under Sean’s direction his District received a Collaboration Award from the Special District Association.
Sean lives in his adopted home of Colorado with his wife and two children. When Sean isn’t spending time with family and other activities, you can find him on a river trying to master the art of making a trout rise.
St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District
Sean is the Executive Director for the St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District. He has 20 plus years experience in water resource planning and policy. Sean earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and spent two years as a Natural Resources Agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service before moving to Colorado. Prior to joining the District, Sean spent 13 years with the City of Greeley, including the last six as their Water Resources Manager.
Sean serves on the Interbasin Compact Committee (IBCC), is the past chair of the South Platte Basin Roundtable, and serves on the Loveland Utilities Commission. Sean is a recipient of the Colorado Foundation for Water Education – Emerging Leader Award, Colorado Water Congress POND Leader of the Year Award, and under Sean’s direction his District received a Collaboration Award from the Special District Association.
Sean lives in his adopted home of Colorado with his wife and two children. When Sean isn’t spending time with family and other activities, you can find him on a river trying to master the art of making a trout rise.
Greg Peterson
Colorado Ag-Water Alliance
Greg Peterson grew up in Littleton, CO, where he still lives after traveling around the world. He studied history and political economy. The past four years, Greg has been knee-deep in farmers and ranchers, learning more about water, agriculture, Colorado, and the digestive habits of cattle than he thought possible. Greg reads and runs incessantly. He is also growing vegetables and starting a small truck farm, so he is learning to hate hail and bindweed.
Colorado Ag-Water Alliance
Greg Peterson grew up in Littleton, CO, where he still lives after traveling around the world. He studied history and political economy. The past four years, Greg has been knee-deep in farmers and ranchers, learning more about water, agriculture, Colorado, and the digestive habits of cattle than he thought possible. Greg reads and runs incessantly. He is also growing vegetables and starting a small truck farm, so he is learning to hate hail and bindweed.
Jeff Sickles
Enginuity
Jeff is a professional engineer focused on watersheds, rivers, and stormwater systems. He has been working in the Colorado professional water resources community his entire career spanning 25 years. Jeff primarily works with local governments providing expertise in planning, assessment, design, implementation, and management. Most recently, Jeff led the State of Colorado’s 2013 Phase II Emergency Watershed Protection Program, overseeing the implementation of $50 million in flood recovery improvements specifically focused on stream function and working with natural systems. Jeff currently serves on the Association of State Floodplain Managers as the Stormwater Committee Co-Chair where he is completing a paper focused on Urban Flood Hazards. Other specific areas of expertise include floodplain management, floodplain hydraulic modeling, stream rehabilitation and restoration, stormwater systems, and construction oversite. Jeff is well known within the water resources community for his emphasis on collaboration and innovation.
Enginuity
Jeff is a professional engineer focused on watersheds, rivers, and stormwater systems. He has been working in the Colorado professional water resources community his entire career spanning 25 years. Jeff primarily works with local governments providing expertise in planning, assessment, design, implementation, and management. Most recently, Jeff led the State of Colorado’s 2013 Phase II Emergency Watershed Protection Program, overseeing the implementation of $50 million in flood recovery improvements specifically focused on stream function and working with natural systems. Jeff currently serves on the Association of State Floodplain Managers as the Stormwater Committee Co-Chair where he is completing a paper focused on Urban Flood Hazards. Other specific areas of expertise include floodplain management, floodplain hydraulic modeling, stream rehabilitation and restoration, stormwater systems, and construction oversite. Jeff is well known within the water resources community for his emphasis on collaboration and innovation.
Closing Keynote - Platte Basin Timelapse - Capturing a Watershed in Motion
Michael Forsberg
Platte Basin Timelapse Project
Michael Forsberg is a conservation photographer, author and educator focused on wildlife, grasslands and watersheds in North America’s Great Plains. He is co-founder of the Platte Basin Timelapse project, and currently serves on faculty at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Mike is a Senior Fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers and is represented by National Geographic Creative. In 2017, he received the Sierra Club’s Ansel Adams Award for Conservation Photography, and the Environmental Impact Award from the North American Nature Photographers Association. Mike lives in Lincoln, Nebraska with his wife and two daughters, a well-mannered cat, and three unruly dogs. To learn more, please visit: www.michaelforsberg.com and www.plattebasintimelapse.com
Platte Basin Timelapse Project
Michael Forsberg is a conservation photographer, author and educator focused on wildlife, grasslands and watersheds in North America’s Great Plains. He is co-founder of the Platte Basin Timelapse project, and currently serves on faculty at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Mike is a Senior Fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers and is represented by National Geographic Creative. In 2017, he received the Sierra Club’s Ansel Adams Award for Conservation Photography, and the Environmental Impact Award from the North American Nature Photographers Association. Mike lives in Lincoln, Nebraska with his wife and two daughters, a well-mannered cat, and three unruly dogs. To learn more, please visit: www.michaelforsberg.com and www.plattebasintimelapse.com