About WIP

History

In August of 1994, the Southwestern Water Conservation District (SWCD), in cooperation with several water agencies and entities in southwestern Colorado, pooled their resources and created the Water Information Program (WIP).

The Water Information Program (WIP) provides balanced educational programming and resources to the people of the San Juan and Dolores watersheds. 25 partner organizations in southwestern Colorado—from water districts, utilities, private stakeholders and environmental advocates—make WIP possible.

Each partner has its own set of priorities and issues and the WIP provides an unbiased forum for communicating information. Participating partners contribute to the WIP based on their unique resources ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. In turn, the SWCD contributes a dollar-for-dollar match. In addition, the SWCD provides the equipment and office space for the WIP.

Program Partners

Current WIP partners (see Participating Partner tab for more information on each) include the:

For more information and/or to become a participating partner, please contact the WIP, call (970) 247-1302, or stop by our office at 841 East 2^nd Ave., Durango, CO 81301.

Programs and Services

Some of the programs and services that the WIP provides for the nine-county Dolores/San Juan River Basin include:

Annual Children’s Water Festival: Conducted the first Wednesday in May each year and now reaches approximately 750 fifth grade students; nearly 100 volunteers make this fun event such an annual success;
Annual Water 101 – 201Seminar: We rotate the location throughout the basin; we have been fortunate enough to have Colorado Supreme Court Justice Greg Hobbs as our keynote speaker since we started offering this program; this workshop qualifies for eight continuing education credits (CEC) for lawyers and realtors, CEC’s for teachers, and training units for water utility personnel;
Forests-to-Faucets Teacher Training Workshop: The F2F program is an intensive two day, in the field training that qualifies for one continuing education credit for teachers through Adams State College, as well as ten contact hours;
Website: This is a very successful website that received approximately 90,000 hits per year; in addition to current events and news, there is a plethora of useful water-related information;
Monthly eNewsletters: The newsletter (see past issues) has a mailing of over 1200 and has become quite popular and well-received. Sign up to receive our e-newsletter on our website;
Brochures: On a wide variety of water-related topics (e.g., rainwater harvesting, water conservation, etc.);
Lending Library: Now with more than 250 books and movies available for the public and water professionals to checkout. Come in to our office to check out a book or video;
Water Display: Used at numerous events throughout the Basin and year (e.g., SWCD Annual Seminar, local libraries, etc.); and
Speaker Series: Talks provided throughout the Basin and year through a variety of local venues (e.g., Rotary, Life-Long Learning Series, etc.).

Administration

Each partner contributes to the Program based on their unique resources. In turn, the SWCD contributes a dollar-for-dollar match. In addition, each contributing partner occupies a seat on the WIP Steering Committee. The Steering Committee meets approximately three time per year to provide program oversight and direction. For more information on the Water Information Program contact:

Elaine Chick, WIP Program Manager
Ed Tolen, WIP Steering Committee Chair
Bruce Whitehead, Southwestern Water Conservation District Executive Director
Laura Spann, Southwestern Water Conservation District Office Manager

841 East Second Avenue
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-1302