Guide to the Colorado Water Congress Collection:

Guide to the Colorado Water Congress Collection

Prepared by Nicolai Kryloff

Colorado State University Water Resources Archive Morgan Library, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1019 USA

A joint effort of the University Libraries and the Colorado Water Institute

Copyright 2008 Colorado State University. All rights reserved.

Finding aid encoded in EAD Version 2002 by Alicia Conrardy, 2008.

Collection Summary

Restrictions

Index Terms

History

Scope and Contents

Arrangement

Administrative Information

Related Material

Series Descriptions

Inventory


Collection Summary
	Creator:	Colorado Water Congress
	Title:	Colorado Water Congress Collection
	Dates:	1958-1970, 1982-2008
	Quantity:	2 linear feet
	Identification:	WCWC
	Abstract:	The Colorado Water Congress was established in 1958 to provide information about water-related issues affecting Colorado and the West. The organization's newsletters offer a broad overview of Colorado water debates and policy issues, as well as columns and commentary from some of the state's leading water experts. Materials include newsletters, VHS tapes, and assorted conference materials.
	Contact Information:	Water Resources Archive Archives and Special Collections Morgan Library Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1019 USA Phone: 970-491-1844 Fax: 970-491-1195 Email: Archives and Special Collections URL: http://lib.colostate.edu/archives/water/

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Restrictions on Use

Not all of the material in the collection is in the public domain. Researchers are responsible for addressing copyright issues.

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Index Terms
	This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Colorado State University Libraries online catalog. Researchers seeking materials about related subjects, persons, organizations or places should search the catalog using these headings.
	Subjects:
		Water resources development--Colorado.
		Water-supply--Government policy--Colorado.
	Organizations:
		Colorado Water Congress.
	Special Document Types:
		Videotapes.

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History

The Colorado Water Congress is an informational and lobbying organization that deals with water-related issues across the state. Founded in 1958, the Congress represents a wide range of water users, including agricultural, municipal, industrial, and recreational interests.

The idea to form a statewide water-users' organization originated in a factionalized climate. In 1957, when Colorado governor Steve McNichols proposed a general meeting of Colorado water users, the idea was initially greeted with skepticism. Nevertheless, a group of water authorities from across the state gathered in Denver later that year, with the goal of establishing a nonpartisan forum without regard to Colorado's geographic divisions. With the support of both state and private institutions, the Colorado Water Congress was formed in 1958 with the goal of providing a platform for all Colorado water users.

Prominent officers of the Congress have included Richard D. MacRavey, who was executive director from 1980 to 2005, and Charles C. Fisk, who edited the organization's newsletter during the 1960s.

The Colorado Water Congress Newsletter, later renamed Colorado Water Rights, was an important component of the organization's outreach mission. These newsletters, published to inform the public about water debates and policy in Colorado, provide a collective overview of state water issues for nearly half a century, with commentary from leading water experts on a range of topics. In addition to this informational medium, the Congress has also sponsored various educational programs and conferences, and has been active in shaping state water legislation.

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Scope and Contents

The Colorado Water Congress Collection consists of documents dated 1958 to 1970 and 1982 to 2008. The collection consists primarily of the organization's newsletters, a partial set of which chronicles a variety of water debates, legislation, and policy issues facing Colorado and the West. Newsletters from 1964 to 1982 are not well represented, with only a few issues present. Prominent subject matter includes perspectives on Colorado water policy and legislation, issues related to administration of the Colorado River Compact, proposed in-state water development projects, groundwater management, and water quality issues. Also included in this collection are assorted conference presentations, agendas and brochures ranging from 2002 to 2008, and several VHS tapes concerning the state's water law and history.

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Arrangement

The collection consists of three series in three boxes:



		Series I: Newsletters, 1958-1970 and 1982-2007
		Series II: Conference materials, 2002-2008
		Series III: Videotapes, 1999 and 2003

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Colorado Water Congress Collection, Water Resources Archive, Colorado State University.

Acquisition

The Colorado Water Congress Collection was compiled in 2008 from various sources, including the Colorado Water Congress, the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute, and the Papers of Charles C. Fisk.

Processing

Processing of this collection was completed in April 2008. Materials were placed in acid-free folders and stored in an acid-free box. Metal fasteners were removed and replaced with plastic clips. VHS tapes were placed in archival cases.

Online Materials

The newsletters in this collection, as well as additional issues not in the collection, have been scanned and are available through the Colorado State University Libraries website. In the electronic version of this document, direct links appear in context.

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Related Material

Materials in the Water Resources Archive related to this collection include the Papers of Charles C. Fisk, who served as editor of the Colorado Water Congress newsletter during the 1960s. Also related is the Richard D. MacRavey collection; MacRavey served the Congress for 26 years after becoming the organization's executive director in 1979.

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Series Descriptions

Series I: Newsletters, 1958-1970 and 1982-2007 (1.5 linear feet)

This series consists of newsletters published by the Colorado Water Congress. Over the years, the newsletter has addressed a variety of critical Colorado water issues, including interstate water debates such as the administration of the Colorado River Compact and the management of reservoirs along this river, disputed in-state water development proposals such as Two Forks Reservoir and Narrows Dam, groundwater use and management, as well as water-quality and environmental issues. During the 1960s, the newsletter was edited by Charles C. Fisk, a prominent Denver water engineer.

In 1982, the title of the newsletter was changed from Colorado Water Congress Newsletter to Colorado Water Rights. At that time, the format was converted to tabloid style, issues were published quarterly or biannually instead of monthly, and the volume and issue numbers were restarted at 1. Volumes between the years 1971 and 1981 are not included in this collection. Missing or incomplete issues are indicated in the item inventory. The newsletters are arranged in chronological order.

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Series II: Conference materials, 2002-2008 (0.25 linear feet)

This series consists of assorted conference materials, including agendas, presentation materials, and brochures. Materials are arranged alphabetically by folder title.

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Series III: Videotapes, 1999-2003 (0.25 linear feet)

This series consists of three VHS tapes concerning Colorado water law and history. Materials are arranged alphabetically by title.

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Inventory

Note: Title information supplied by the archivist is bracketed. Estimated pagination is preceded by an "e." Two identical copies of the same item are indicated by the phrase "2 copies" at the end of the entry, following the number of pages of each copy.


Series I: Newsletters
Box	Folder
1	1	Colorado Water Congress Newsletter, volume 1. 1958. e30pp. VIEW volumes 1-10, 13
1	2	Colorado Water Congress Newsletter, volume 2 [no. 6 missing]. 1959. e50pp.
1	3	Colorado Water Congress Newsletter, volume 3. 1960. e50pp.
1	4	Colorado Water Congress Newsletter, volume 4. 1961. e50pp.
1	5	Colorado Water Congress Newsletter, volume 5 [no. 4 incomplete]. 1962. e50pp.
1	6	Colorado Water Congress Newsletter, volume 6 [no. 6 missing]. 1963. e50pp.
1	7	Colorado Water Congress Newsletter, volume 7 [no. 1-3 only]. 1964. e20pp.
1	8	Colorado Water Congress Newsletter, volume 10 [no. 2 only]. 1967. 12pp.
1	9	Colorado Water Congress Newsletter, volume 13 [no. 4 only]. 1970. 8pp.
		Colorado Water Congress Newsletter, volumes 14-23. 1971-1980. VIEW volumes 14-23
2	1	Colorado Water Rights, volume 1 [no. 1 only, 2 copies]. 1982. 8pp. VIEW volumes 1-24
2	2	Colorado Water Rights, volume 2. 1983. e20pp.
2	3	Colorado Water Rights, volume 3 [no. 1-2 only]. 1984. e20pp.
2	4	Colorado Water Rights, volume 4 [no. 2-3 only] . 1985. e20pp.
2	5	Colorado Water Rights, volume 5. 1986. e20pp.
2	6	Colorado Water Rights, volume 6. 1987. e20pp.
2	7	Colorado Water Rights, volume 7. 1988. e20pp.
2	8	Colorado Water Rights, volume 8. 1989. e20pp.
2	9	Colorado Water Rights, volume 9 [2 copies of no. 1]. 1990. e20pp.
2	10	Colorado Water Rights, volume 10. 1991. e20pp.
2	11	Colorado Water Rights, volume 11. 1992. e20pp.
2	12	Colorado Water Rights, volume 12. 1993. e20pp.
2	13	Colorado Water Rights, volume 13. 1994. e20pp.
2	14	Colorado Water Rights, volume 14. 1994-1995. e20pp.
2	15	Colorado Water Rights, volume 15. 1996. e20pp.
2	16	Colorado Water Rights, volume 16. 1997. e20pp.
2	17	Colorado Water Rights, volume 17. 1998. e20pp.
2	18	Colorado Water Rights, volume 18. 1999. e20pp.
2	19	Colorado Water Rights, volume 19. 2000. e20pp.
2	20	Colorado Water Rights, volume 20. 2001. e20pp.
2	21	Colorado Water Rights, volume 21. 2002. e20pp.
2	22	Colorado Water Rights, volume 22 [2 copies of no. 1]. 2003. e20pp.
2	23	Colorado Water Rights, volume 23. 2004. e20pp.
2	24	Colorado Water Rights, volume 24. 2005. e20pp.
2	25	Colorado Water Congress, January 2007 Newsletter [volume number not indicated]. 2007. e10pp.

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Series II: Conference materials
Box	Folder
1	10	[Colorado Water Congress - 45th Annual Convention]. 2002-2003. e20pp.
1	11	[Colorado Water Congress - 49th Annual Convention]. 2007. e30pp.
1	12	[Colorado Water Congress - 50th Annual Convention]. 2008. e10pp.
1	13	[Colorado Water Congress - Summer Convention]. 2006. e20pp.

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Series III: Videotapes

Box

Folder

Historical Perspective by Aspinall Recipients, featuring Ralph Adkins, Sam Maynes, and Bill Miller. 1999. 1 VHS tape

Colorado Water Congress - Revisiting Colorado Water Law Issues (The School of Hard Knocks in Water Law, 11/03) Parts 1 and 2. 2003. 2 VHS tapes

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