This is a transcript of the Spur of the Moment episode “Listening to the Colorado River with Becky Mitchell.” It is provided as a courtesy and may contain errors.

Becky Mitchell: Where we’re gonna find our future solutions is the blend of science and policy.

Jocelyn Hittle: Welcome to “Spur of the Moment,” the podcast of Colorado State University’s Spur Campus in Denver, Colorado.

Becky Mitchell: When you think about those 40 million people and the $1.4 trillion economy and the 5 million acres of irrigated farmland that rely on that, that’s a lot of pressure.

Jocelyn Hittle: Hello and welcome to “Spur of the Moment,” the podcast of Colorado State University’s Spur Campus in Denver, Colorado. On this podcast, we talk with experts in food, water, and health about how they are tackling big challenges in these three areas. I’m Jocelyn Hittle, and I am joined today by Becky Mitchell, the Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Welcome, Becky.

Becky Mitchell: Thank you, Jocelyn. So happy to be here.

Jocelyn Hittle: Happy to have you. As Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Becky carries out the policies and directives of the board relating to conservation, development, and use of the state’s water resources. Becky has been director for four years, and prior to that was the Water Supply Planning Section Head. Becky worked as a Water Policy and Issues Coordinator within the State Department of Natural Resources. Becky has both her bachelor’s and master’s in engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. Becky, can you start us off by describing what the Colorado Water Conservation Board is, what exactly is it, what is it charged with doing?

Becky Mitchell: Really, CWCB was created over 80 years ago as the state’s water information resource and really has developed into the state’s primary water policy agency. It’s one of the agencies within Colorado Department of Natural Resources. It’s governed by a board, some of those are governor appointed board members and state officials. And that includes the DNR Director, Dan Gibbs and myself on that board. And really our focus areas include interstate water issues because our rivers and lakes cross our state boundaries. Stream and lake protection, otherwise known as our Instream Flow Program. Our water supply planning, which I hope folks know about our Colorado Water Plan, but that falls under that section. Watershed and Flood Protection, which includes unfortunately a lot of wildfire restoration efforts right now.

Jocelyn Hittle: The CWCB plays a number of roles you just outlined for us, several big buckets, no pun intended, of work that you all do. What has been keeping you most busy recently, and maybe what are you most proud of in terms of your recent work with CWCB?

Becky Mitchell: So I think what’s keeping us most busy now is the suite of issues that we have going on between drought, wildfire, flooding now, it’s not one thing, it’s the combination and the culmination of all of those things coming together and really putting us in a position of having to step up. And so when we talk about what I am most proud of, I would think it really is about how the agency has been able to evolve and step up in areas that maybe we weren’t designed when the CWCB was originated, I don’t believe that folks were thinking about the watershed health and the impact that that had and how that affects everything, and being able to adapt and be there for water users and the people of Colorado, and the resource of Colorado, and changing the way that we do things to change with the times, I think is what I’m most proud of.

Jocelyn Hittle: That’s great, so very adaptable, very cross-disciplinary, which makes a lot of sense given that water impacts so many different sectors and areas of work within the state. So can you say more about that integration role, how you all might connect someone in agriculture, and someone in industry or business, and someone in policy. I mean, you do so much work that brings different people together, can you say a little bit more about that?

Becky Mitchell: Yeah, we like to call projects multi beneficial projects, but really a lot of, kind of making that into simpler terms, it’s really about bringing different interests together and looking for common goals. And so when we talk about agriculture and the environment, there’s ways that we can do better for agriculture while at the same time focus and do better for the environment and the resource, and we’re all providing a municipal water supply. And so I think when we talk about multi beneficial, it is about that integration and integration across sectors.

Jocelyn Hittle: Is there any favorite example you have of some win-wins across different sectors?

Becky Mitchell: I think there are so many, a lot of the work that’s happening right now with agricultural transfer mechanisms and that work and how we have landowners working right alongside with environmental entities, I think those are probably the projects that get me most excited.

Jocelyn Hittle: You described in your early comments when you were describing what CWCB does and what you’re most focused on right now, it’s really hard to say one thing because there is so much happening, we are really facing a lot of pressures around water in the state of Colorado. Can you say a little bit about Colorado specifically, we are one of two headwater states, the other being Hawaii, and we can talk more about that later, I know that’s your state. So what is the significance of Colorado being a headwater state? And then when you’re looking at that suite of challenges that we are facing right now, how do those two things interface with each other?

Becky Mitchell: I think being a headwater state provides a lot of opportunity and a lot of pressure. And so when you think about the 40 million people that rely on the Colorado River, that is a lot to think about. And so the Colorado River flows over 1400 miles through seven states and Mexico. And so when you think about those 40 million people and the $1.4 trillion economy and that 5 million acres of irrigated farmland that rely on that, that’s a lot of pressure. And the way that we operate has influence on all of that, and what we do is going to have influence. And being the headwater state means we really are the first. You think about the water that originates in Colorado, a lot of it flows out, so we are supplying for more than just ourselves. And so the Colorado River starts in Colorado, it comes from our snowpack, from our mountains, and the mountains in Colorado. And that start point really makes us in the lead position.

Jocelyn Hittle: A lot of folks think about Colorado and they think about snowy mountains, and they think about skiing, and they don’t really think about the fact that people who are up there skiing in February are skiing on our largest reservoir and one of the biggest sources of water, not only for Colorado, but in north America, right? This is a huge reservoir that’s trapped in that snowpack. And so being the headwaters, the headwaters means the start of a river, so in some ways, our headwaters is really that snowpack, and it feeds a lot of different rivers and water bodies that flow outward from the state. When you think about the fact that we have this maybe additional responsibility as a headwater state, when so to your point, there are seven states, Mexico, so many people, so much economic impact of the Colorado River, can you tell us a little bit about how you interface with those other states, you mentioned that the CWCB plays an interstate role. Can you say a little bit more on that?

Becky Mitchell: Yeah, definitely. So, along with heading up the Colorado Water Conservation Board, I’m also appointed by the governor as Colorado’s River Commissioner for the state. So as the commissioner, I am the one responsible for working with the other basin states as we look towards the future. And so right now we’re in a point of time where we’re looking at renegotiating how Lakes Powell and Mead operate into the future. Currently the guidelines, they’re often referred to as the 2007 guidelines or 07 guidelines, they’re set to expire in 2026. And so we’re in the process of really starting to look at, okay, what is the future look like and how those reservoirs are operated? It’s important to remember though that we don’t get a supply from that. When we talked about being that headwater state, there is not a reservoir above us like there is for the lower basin like Lake Powell and Lake Mead. In the upper basin stage which is Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming, we’re really focused on that snowpack supply. And so it creates a situation where we need to figure out how to manage for the future. And when we’re seeing the hydrology that we’ve seen the last 20 years and we’re looking at the impacts of climate change, we really have to go forth with all of that in mind and know that it’s gonna be tougher than it has been before. And so we really are beginning those discussions of what does our future look like in the whole entire Colorado River Basin.

Jocelyn Hittle: So just take a step back to describe the Colorado River a little bit. So as we’ve been talking about, there’s this reservoir in our snowpack, as that snowpack melts, it flows into the upper basin of the Colorado River, which includes Colorado, Arizona, Utah, and Wyoming, and then into the lower basin which includes Arizona, California, and Nevada. We should talk a little bit about what’s going on in the lower basin right now because we are sitting here talking the day after the federal government put some restrictions on the Colorado River in the lower basin. So can you say a little bit more about what the significance of that particular moment in time is?

Becky Mitchell: Definitely, so yesterday was a long day. And part of that came from the first ever shortage declaration by the Department of Interior, or the Colorado River Basin basically, the lower basin states. And so that was triggered by levels in Lakes Powell and Mead, and really it’s a proactive step to help us remedy that situation. But that being said, it wasn’t completely unexpected, there was the Drought Contingency Plan in 2019 that the seven basin states along with the Department of Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation signed with that specific goal of reducing risks associated with drought. So that included these falling elevations in Lakes Powell and Mead. So unfortunately we’ve had to start using those provisions outlined within the plan, although it’s not unexpected, it is still unfortunate that we never wanted to be in this situation. So we continue to see those severe drought conditions and falling water levels. So the first step, and we were a part of that, was to release specific amounts of water from the upper reservoirs. We’re seeing that in Colorado’s own Blue Mesa Reservoir. And so there’ll be releases from that that’s already started occurring, Flaming Gorge, and then also Navajo reservoir.

Jocelyn Hittle: I mean, this is really a fascinating situation with the Colorado River. And I do wanna talk about other things other than the Colorado River, but it’s so important and so present right now that what we’re seeing and what you and your team are managing is a combination of the need to use less and also to move the water around more. So what you just described was the release of some water from the upper basin to the lower basin at the same time that the lower basin is also facing restrictions on how they use that water once it’s there, or the water that’s already there. So what are some of the restrictions that those lower basins are going to need to implement? Are they things that we are also doing here in Colorado?

Becky Mitchell: That’s each state kind of manages how they deal with their allocation. And so from my understanding, Nevada has already taken steps. In Arizona, there will be less water that’s going into the groundwater system for recharge.

Jocelyn Hittle: I see, okay. So maybe we can talk a little bit too about obviously the Colorado River. It feels like this very big, complicated math equation with lots of different people who have responsibility for different pieces of it. And that’s playing out on a really large scale. Maybe we can take it down a little bit to talk about what it is that’s happening at a smaller scale, both within the state of Colorado, but also how you are seeing individual companies or individual people reacting to the situation that we’re in right now, which is it’s hotter, it’s dryer, we have less. So let’s talk a little bit about Colorado first. We have a State Water Plan, the Colorado Water Plan, how was it developed and what are some of its primary features?

Becky Mitchell: So that is one of the things that I was most proud of from a little bit of a go, and really that was developed basically a grounds up process, where we looked at the different basins across the state and really said to the basins, okay, you determine what your future looks like, let us talk about what’s most valuable in the areas across the state, because the South Platte may be very different from the North Platte, and the North Platte may be very different from the Arkansas Basin. And Arkansas may be very different from the Southwest, or the Yampa, or the Gunnison. And so-

Jocelyn Hittle: Those are all rivers in Colorado for those of you who don’t know. Becky just has them roll off her tongue ’cause she’s so used to talking about them, but those are some different river basins and watersheds in the state.

Becky Mitchell: Well, and all the while we still have the metropolitan area of which a lot of that resides in the South Platte basin, but it’s kind of got its own features. Plan is really by the people, for the people. And it says, let’s do this together. And so that’s really what the plan does, and lays out some goals. There’s almost, I think like about 300 individual metrics in the original water plan, but really nine main objectives that we’re looking to move forward at the same time, at the same pace. And that includes preserving agriculture, and conservation, and looking at more storage opportunities, all the while protecting the environment and recreation. And so I think it’s really a by the people, for the people movement to the future.

Jocelyn Hittle: And one of the things that I’m struck by is in your description of it being a plan that everyone came together to create and need to continue to come together to implement, and then as you scale up also, we are working together across state boundaries. So it feels to me very much like water in the west is something where collaboration can happen, but that isn’t always the case. So can you maybe talk a little bit about some of those collaborative successes and where there’s maybe still room for work.

Becky Mitchell: Where we can use collaboration, I think that’s the best way. And the Water Plan is an example of that. I think when you look back at the history of it and some of the nervousness, it came out through then Governor Hickenlooper through Executive Order, like the directive to do it. And if I could tell you the kind of the messaging that people were saying after that Executive Order came out versus the message that we’re hearing now where they’re invoking the Water Plan. There were many skeptics, and I think that’s a perfect example of collaboration, where the administration was taking a leadership role and saying, this needs to be done, we need to plan better for our future, we were one of the last Western states to have a formal Water Plan. But saying that and people being extremely nervous about it, but building it in a way where they’re invoking its name as we move towards the future I think is a perfect example of collaboration.

Jocelyn Hittle: Right, and it shows the buy-in that people had where they felt that it reflected what they were telling you all as the CWCB that they needed and was most important. So I only hear from people what a great example the Colorado Water Plan was of collaboration, particularly given that it was a contentious issue up until then, then could we replicate it in other sectors, that collaborative approach?

Becky Mitchell: Well, and I think one of the things that was so interesting about Colorado’s water plan was the initial skepticism to the public comment period. And the way that that occurred, we got over 30,000 public comments on Colorado’s water plan, but I think more importantly was what we did with those. And I think when we talk about creating buy-in, it’s showing that people’s voice matters. And how do you show that? And so when people saw that their comment made a difference and could point to where it made a difference, I think that that was a huge piece of the buy-in that still exists for planning for our future through Colorado’s water plan.

Jocelyn Hittle: Absolutely, that transparency of your own impact and really seeing your thoughts reflected as local experts in what the water challenges are across the state being able to see their own impact is really important. Becky, can you tell us a little bit about what you’re focused on now. What are your goals for the next year, I know the water plan is in implementation and revision mode?

Becky Mitchell: Yes, so we’re obviously still focused on Colorado River and with the drought situation that we’re in, even though it seemed like we were very wet on the Eastern slope, we are still very dry on the Western slope of Colorado. So we’re very focused on that, but really it’s important to note that the Water Plan is a living document and that it doesn’t just stop because you have one, we constantly are trying to improve and learn more and use the best science available. And so we’re in the revision stage. So keep an eye out for that. We have links on our web page and you can keep looking, and giving input, and attending meetings, and being a part of being a part of the future.

Jocelyn Hittle: Thank you, and you described the original drafting creation of the Colorado Water Plan and how you needed people’s voices for that. That is no different now as you look to revise, so really encourage people to engage. You will see your ideas and voice reflected in what the CWCB creates as part of this revision. So speaking of voices related to water, can we talk a little bit about diversity in the water sector. So as I think you know, one of the goals of the Spur campus is to increase the diversity of backgrounds, and minds, and voices, and skillsets in these different fields of food, water, and health, can you talk a little bit about how diverse is the water sector now? What are you doing to increase diversity of all kinds? And is there more that we collectively and maybe we as a university could be doing?

Becky Mitchell: I love all of those questions. And so I think when we talk about first and foremost how diverse is kind of the water community now, I think it has definitely progressed. I always say, if we wanna look at things differently, then we have to talk to different people. And so that’s been a big push, not only on myself, but through the administration. So in March of 2021, the Department of Natural Resources announced the establishment of the Water Equity Task Force. It included 20 Coloradans from across the state who have unique perspectives and represent diverse groups. And so the purpose of that task force is to help the state better understand equity, diversity, and inclusivity challenges in water issues, and ultimately help inform the next Colorado Water Plan so that it’s truly representative of all the state’s people. Beyond that, though, when we think about how can you all play a role? How can everybody that’s listening play a role? I think the best way to address equity and inclusivity in water issues is for our state officials, our local leaders to connect young people to water and get them invested in it, and get them passionate about it. We should be blending water issues into school curriculums, other youth programs so they understand it, feel closer to it, know where their water comes from, and really have a passion to make a difference in that sector. So that may inspire a more diverse and open-minded group to be future water leaders. And I hope that we can all be an example of including folks in and being a part of that change. I think being a woman in water and being quite frank, the stats weren’t as equal as they are now and when I started in this business. And to watch that transition and watch the way that it has, I think, positively impacted the way we’re planning for the future, I think is a good thing. And we need more of it.

Jocelyn Hittle: They couldn’t agree more. And I think given the critical nature of water, we should feel inspired to tackle this big challenge. And there’s no way we can do it without diverse voices at the table that are gonna bring different perspectives and different solutions that we haven’t yet thought of. So appreciate your thinking on that. So we’re gonna shift gears a little bit and talk a little bit about how you got where you are. So one of the things that the Spur campus is interested in doing is introducing young people to careers they might not have thought about, careers in water to your point is one of the areas that we’re interested in connecting young people to. The other thing we want to do is to show young people that they can do these jobs, what does the pathway look like? Let’s take some of the mystery out of how you become the Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Tell us a little bit how you got here.

Becky Mitchell: I think there is no direct path. If folks hear anything today, I think that you can change your path, and you can change your path at any time. I would say mine was as circuitous as anyone’s for sure. I always had a bit of a science mind and was focused on that. I never dreamed that I would be doing the things that I am doing now, but I am so happy that I am. And I think part of it was being open to change and being open to your previous thoughts about what your future looked like changing. And so my background was engineering for sure. And I thought I would be sitting in an office, designing and not talking to many people. And now pretty much what I do is talk to people all day, but it really went from kind of an engineering role and looking at policy, and trying to make things different, and saying there’s better ways to do things that led me to where I am right now.

Jocelyn Hittle: Bachelor’s degree, did you go straight to the master’s or was there some work in there?

Becky Mitchell: No, and so I’m gonna fully disclose all of my dirty laundry, but you get it all. It took me about nine and a half years to get my bachelor’s. So I kind of did things a little bit backwards. And so I had a couple of kids by the time I got my bachelor’s, and five kids when I got my master’s. But I went to, I did my bachelor’s and went right into the field and working and in consulting. And some work came up that made me feel like I wanna do some more research. And so I went and got my masters at the same time that I was working. And that took a few years. A lot of folks can do it in just a year or two, but took a few years. And I did it while I was working the whole time, but I got to choose and having had a little bit of time working, it helped me decide what I wanted to focus on and what kind of policies I wanted to look at as it shaped kind of my engineering mind. So the bachelor’s was in engineering, same with the master’s, but a lot of the focus was on policy in the master’s.

Jocelyn Hittle: Yeah, so that’s interesting. It feels to me that it’s not uncommon for people who are in the sciences to then say, hey, if we to make a difference in this, whatever your particular interests might be, that there’s a policy piece that weaves its way in. So you made that transition in part for impact, right?

Becky Mitchell: Definitely, and I think where we’re gonna find our future solutions is the blend of science and policy, and scientists being able to speak policy, and policy makers being able to hear and understand what scientists are saying. I think that’s gonna be incredibly important as we move to the future.

Jocelyn Hittle: So I can absolutely relate as originally a scientist and now a person that does mostly project management that the skills transfer. So I think one of the things that I hope that we can inspire kids to understand as well as they come through the Spur Campus is that an understanding of the science even if you aren’t going to focus on that as your primary area of work can really help you, and the sort of scientific mindset can help you problem solve in whatever realm you then work in.

Becky Mitchell: Definitely, we need more problem-solvers.

Jocelyn Hittle: We do you need more problem-solvers. So can you tell us a little bit about, speaking of solving problems, I’m guessing that you do this on a daily basis, but maybe you can tell us a little bit about what is the job actually like? So you’ve had this pathway, and in some ways unconventional and juggling a lot of different competing priorities. And now you’re here, what is a week in the life look like as the Director of the CWCB?

Becky Mitchell: I’d I like to tell you any week was the same as another, I’d like to tell you any day would be the same as the day before. That’s never the case, which I think is actually works for me. Where some days I buckle down and I answer hundreds of emails, or I’m out speaking to people all day, or I’m reading reports or getting ready for board meetings, or actually in meetings all day, it varies. And I think that that’s what works for me, is that having a variety of situations to address.

Jocelyn Hittle: Let’s circle back for a second. So you’re originally from Hawaii, which is the other headwater state.

Becky Mitchell: Yes.

Jocelyn Hittle: Did that influence your interest in water, and how did you end up in Colorado from Hawaii?

Becky Mitchell: Definitely, I think as I reflect on kind of my upbringing and where I’m from, I’ve always had a sheer, a very tight connectedness to water. In Hawaii, a lot of it is saltwater, but there’s fresh water and we all rely on freshwater, but I’ve always felt connected. But growing up in Hawaii helped because I feel like there was such an emphasis on being stewards, stewards of the land, stewards of the environment, stewards of water. And I think we always knew water was life. We grew up with that statement and recognizing both the positive and negative impacts of it, and how it can be used, but how it gives. And so I think that really shaped who I am and my passion for this.

Jocelyn Hittle: So let’s talk a little bit about the last 18 months and what you have learned or what has been exposed by us working our way through the impacts of COVID and a global pandemic. How has that influenced your work?

Becky Mitchell: One of the things that I’ve seen over the last 18 months, and is something that we’ve known for for a long time, is that water and access to water, clean water, is incredibly important. And so I think some of the things that has really reinvigorated me and my work and the work that we do focused on water is seeing some of the differences across the country and specifically in rural areas or on sovereign tribal lands in terms of the access to clean water. And so I think that really has inspired me to be continually advocating and working with folks all across the state, including rural areas where there’s not always access to clean water, but especially on tribal reservation lands where the stats that came out during COVID in terms of the numbers of indigenous peoples and the higher rates of COVID occurrence and death, and the correlation of that to access to clean, drinking water, or clean water, or water in general, I think is something that as a nation, we need to continue to work on and move forward.

Jocelyn Hittle: Yeah, I think there are a lot of things that we learned throughout the course of COVID. Of course we’re not through it yet, but I feel like we have learned a lot across, a lot of different sectors around equity and inequitable impacts of negative things, and inequitable access to helpful and positive things. So I think that’s important to recognize that water is no exception.

Becky Mitchell: Thank you.

Jocelyn Hittle: Let’s talk just for a few minutes about your connection to the CSU Spur Campus. So you’ve been connected to the Spur Water in the West Symposium for the last several years. So thank you again for engaging in that each year. How do you see the Spur Campus, the Hydro building which you is focused on water, how do you see us being useful?

Becky Mitchell: Well, I think it goes back to that equity and diversity question, and really using all the resources that we have to get to build our future. And so I think that providing the opportunity for a space for that is first and foremost incredibly important. But really bringing people into the fold, I think the Spur is focused on that. And I think set up in an optimal way to help me meet my goals, so you do that for me so thank you

Jocelyn Hittle: Okay, thank you. Thanks, I will do our best. I mean, the thing that is both good and sometimes a struggle for those of us who might not always be that patient is that what we are hoping to do is engage young people in these career pathways and help show them you can do this, this is how, this is the educational pathway, how can we help set you up for success? And that is a long game, that if we’re engaging with a sixth grader, it’s a while before they even graduate high school and let alone enter the workforce, let alone be tackling these problems. And yet we also see young people making a difference every day of their lives, influencing how the people around them are behaving, or starting international movements around climate change when they’re 16, for example. So I try to remind myself that we’re playing both games, maybe it’s both games at once, we have both timelines I play.

Becky Mitchell: That the long game is definitely the one we have to be focused on. And so personally, I try to mentor or work and learn from as many younger people as I can. So I think I’m proud of the few that I spend a lot of time with.

Jocelyn Hittle: We’re gonna wrap up. So one thing we like to do is make sure that our listeners can find you and your organization on social media. So can you tell us a little bit what the channels you all are on, and how folks can find you?

Becky Mitchell: Yes, we’re at CWCB-

Jocelyn Hittle: Across the board.

Becky Mitchell: Yeah, at DNR. And then our Instagram is Coloradowaterconservation_dnr. And we have a YouTube channel. So you could search for us at CWCB. And then my personal Twitter, not personal, my work Twitter is @CWCBbecky.

Jocelyn Hittle: We’ll also link to that in our show notes so people can find you and follow your great work. Last thing is our Spur of the Moment question.

Becky Mitchell: Oh no.

Jocelyn Hittle: So I know you do a lot of outdoor activity. If you could pick one thing that you could do for the rest of your life, which one would it be?

Becky Mitchell: Yeah, I know it may seem surprising, Jocelyn, but I still play soccer. And if I can still play soccer when I’m 90, I’ll be thrilled.

Jocelyn Hittle: That’s great. I expected you to say paddleboarding, but soccer is great.

Jocelyn Hittle: The “Spur of the Moment” podcast is produced by Peach Islander Productions. And our theme music is by Ketsa. Please visit the show notes for links mentioned during today’s episode, we hope you’ll join us in two weeks for the next “Spur of the Moment” episode, until then, be well.