Board of Directors

The Arkansas River Basin Water Forum is governed by an 12-member board of directors representing a diverse base of water users including municipal, recreation, agriculture, industrial and government. The board meets monthly in various parts of the basin depending upon the location of the Forum each year.
  • Chairperson - Bob Hamel, Arkansas River Outfitters Association                                                 Director@arkansasriveroutfitters.org
  • Vice Chairperson - Blake Osborn, Colorado Water Institute & CSU Extension                     Blake.Osborn@colostate.edu
  • Secretary - Julia Gallucci, Colorado Springs Utilities                                                                              JGallucci@csu.org
  • Treasurer - Ed Perko, Pueblo Water                                                                                                                 EPerko@pueblowater.org
  • Director -  Dr. Lorenz Sutherland, Retired Natural Resource Conservation Service           DrSalt6054@gmail.com              
  • Director - John Knapp, Knapp Farms                                                                                                               JohnKnapp464@gmail.com
  • Director -  Rick Kienitz, Arkansas Valley Range Project                                                                        RKienitz@auroragov.org
  • Director -  Mannie Colon, Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District                                   M.Colon@colonorchards.com
  • ​Director - Matt Heimerich, Palmer Land Trust                                                                                          Matt@palmerlandtrust.org    
  • ​Director - Al Tucker, Arkansas Basin Roundtable                                                                                    altucker63@gmail.com
  • ​Director - Jim Valliant, Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District                          jvcsu@ria.net​​
  • ​Director - Jean Van Pelt, Arkansas River Basin Roundtable - PEPO                                            ArkPepo@gmail.com 

Staff

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The Arkansas River Basin Water Forum is a 501 (c)3 non-profit that serves as a conduit for information about the Arkansas River Basin in Colorado, and for issues related to water allocation and management.  Through our annual Forums, a wider understanding of water issues has evolved and along with it the opportunity to find common ground.