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Farmers, Ranchers to Gather For Ag Water Summit

Creative Commons

More than 200 ranchers, farmers and environmentalists will gather in Loveland tomorrow for this year’s Agriculture Water Summit.

As the population of Colorado continues to grow, water is an increasingly scarce and important resource. And agriculture interests—everyone from cattle ranchers to farmers—are playing a key role in that future.

“As we grow, we need more water for municipal and industrial use,” said John Stulp, an advisor to Governor John Hickenlooper on water who will attend the summit. “But as these extra people come to Colorado they will also need food.”

According to Stulp, the industry uses about 85 percent of all water across the state initially.

One area slated for discussion is a facilitated dialogue between agriculture interests and those of environmental groups, which have sparred in recent years over the Northern Integrated Supply Project– or NISP. The effort proposes creation of the Glade and Galeton reservoirs in Larimer and Weld counties.

For a copy of the conference agenda, click here.