Known for our Water Leaders program in California, we launched a Colorado River Water Leaders program in 2022, the 100th anniversary of the Colorado River Compact and the 25th anniversary of our California Water Leaders program.

The biennial Colorado River Water Leaders program selects rising stars from the Upper and Lower basin states (California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming), tribal nations and Mexico. Participants are up-and-coming leaders in their early to mid-career at state and federal agencies, including the Bureau of Reclamation, water and irrigation districts, tribal nations, environmental groups, agricultural interests, private companies and non-governmental organizations. 

The program’s goal is to build a network of water leaders from diverse backgrounds across the basin who will deepen their knowledge of the iconic Southwestern river, build their leadership skills and learn how to understand other perspectives.

Our next Colorado River Water Leaders cohort will be in 2026, with applications available in late 2025. Sign up for our news announcements to find out when they are available.

To find out more about the program, you can view a recording of a Q&A session that took place for 2024 cohort applications. Executive Director Jenn Bowles and other Foundation team members provided an overview of the program and gave tips on how to submit a good application.

The program begins in March with an orientation and reception in Las Vegas the evening before our three-day Lower Colorado River Tour (usually in March) and concludes in September with our Colorado River Symposium in Santa Fe.

During the program, Water Leaders are required to:

• Attend our Lower Colorado River Tour in March.
• Spend time with a mentor who is a leading Colorado River expert.
• Attend virtual work group meetings with their cohort and one two-day in-person work group meeting in Sacramento in the summer.
• Develop a policy paper with their cohort on an assigned topic. 
• Attend our biennial Colorado River Symposium in Santa Fe in September to present policy ideas.