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Students in this project will engage with one of the most significant forces shaping the American West and one of the most pressing issues facing our region: the Colorado River. Together, we will trace its life-giving story—from prehuman times, to its role in Indigenous communities, to its influence on settler expansion, and to its present-day commodification for the economy, recreation, irrigation, and the supply of clean drinking water to millions of people who choose to live in the American desert. Along the way, we will learn from and with the diverse communities that rely on and work to protect the river, including Native nations, ranchers, commercial recreation leaders, municipal managers, and conservationists. This project invites us to consider a central question: How can we give back to a river that has given us so much?
Day 1
Day 1
It has been an immersive and thought-provoking start for the "Water in the West" Winterim group! We kicked off our journey on Friday by diving into the cultural currents of water, comparing creation myths to see how the stories of our youth shape our modern perceptions of the natural world and the role humans play in its health. After screening the documentary Watershed, which highlights the Colorado River’s struggle to reach the sea, the group mapped out the river’s complex web of uses and launched our mobile art project—a creative endeavor designed to represent the delicate balance between human necessity and the restoration of the river’s delta.
Today, we transitioned from storytelling to the hard science of the landscape. We explored the fundamentals of fluvial geomorphology, using stream table simulations to visualize Lane’s Equation and the concept of dynamic equilibrium—the idea that a river is a system constantly reacting to change in a never-ending quest for balance. A highlight of the day was a video call with a program alumnus who has built a career centered on the Colorado River, providing a real-world look at water advocacy. We wrapped up by diving into the NPR podcast Parched, with students teaching one another about everything from "water police" to agricultural conservation, all in preparation for our field study at the Button Rock Dam tomorrow!
Day 2
Day 2
Tuesday kicked off with a breathtaking, hands-on expedition to Rocky Mountain National Park. Amidst the quiet beauty of Bear Lake, we strapped on snowshoes and got to work as citizen scientists. Guided by Rangers Danny and Ashley, we dug deep snow pits to analyze the layers beneath our feet, calculating Snow Water Equivalence (SWE) to predict the spring runoff. This isn't just data; it’s a preview of our region's future water supply. Folks all the way in southern California rely on this information to know how to plan for the summer. The journey back was equally illuminating as we stopped at Button Rock Dam and Preserve. Stepping into the control room with Nicole from Longmont Water and Rangers Dan and Lindsay felt like peering into the "brain" of our local watershed, seeing firsthand how engineering keeps the taps flowing.
Day 3
Day 3
On Wednesday, the focus shifted from the physical snowpack to the complex "Law of the River." We dove into the 1922 Colorado River Compact, exploring the delicate—and often strained—balance between Upper and Lower Basin states. This concept of equilibrium came to life as we finalized the design for our mobile project, using art to represent the precarious stability required to share a finite resource. Back on campus, a walk through our irrigation system provided a reality check; the sight of above-ground sprinklers served as a stark reminder that because of a dry winter, our upstream neighbors are still filling their ponds, leaving ours empty for now. We closed the day with a vital lesson on the 30 Indigenous tribes of the Colorado River Basin, discussing the legal and systemic hurdles they face in accessing the water they have been promised for generations.
Day 4
Day 4
Thursday was all about tracing the journey from "wild" water to the kitchen sink. We hopped on the mini-bus and headed to the Lafayette Water Treatment Plant, where we followed the literal flow of our community’s lifeline. It was fascinating to see the multi-faceted chemical and physical processes—filtration, flocculation, and disinfection—that transform reservoir water into something safe and clear. Watching the final product get pumped into the city’s massive storage containers really hit home how much infrastructure is required to support our daily lives. After a quick supply run and a well-deserved lunch (plus some Sweet Cow ice cream to fuel our brains), we returned to campus to transition from engineering to art, diving straight into "build time" for our mobile.
Day 5
Day 5
Friday was a test of patience, physics, and persistence. We spent the entire day in the classroom putting the finishing touches on our mobile—the artistic culmination of everything we’ve learned about the Colorado River's importance and struggles. Achieving the "perfect balance" proved to be much harder than it looks; we faced several stumbles as we adjusted weights and lengths to ensure every piece hung just right. Despite the challenges, the effort paid off. We are incredibly proud of the final result—a moving, hanging representation of the delicate balance between humans and the natural world we are reliant upon. We can’t wait to find the perfect spot on campus to display our work!
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