Mission, Vision & Values

Our Mission

We develop, collect, protect and deliver reliable water supplies for Northern Colorado.

Our Vision

Water sustains our communities, economies and environment for current and future generations.

Our Values

Stewardship

We are entrusted by our constituents with managing and safeguarding Northern Colorado’s water resources for current and future generations. By embracing accountability, environmental responsibility and investing in communities within our service area, we strive to preserve, and in some cases enhance, the water resources that sustain the region

Collaboration

We lead through partnerships and work with allottees, enterprise participants and stakeholders to address water challenges across the region and the West. Collaboration is at the heart of our approach—whether educating the public, engaging with communities, or leveraging expertise internally and externally to achieve shared goals.

Excellence

We are committed to operational and financial responsibility with transparency, as well as the safety of our employees and the greater community. By fostering innovation, maintaining and modernizing infrastructure, and promoting a diverse culture, we deliver reliable and cost-effective water solutions while ensuring the long-term vitality of the organization and the resources it manages.

Who We Are

Northern Water is a Conservancy District established under the Colorado Revised Statutes. Our purpose and authority is defined by the Conservancy Act and further outlined in the decree of creation, the repayment contract with the Bureau of Reclamation and the principles set forth in U.S. Senate Document No. 80. Since its inception, Northern Water’s operations have also been guided by various rules, regulations and policies as defined by its Board of Directors. In accordance with the Conservancy Act, Northern Water is governed by a 13-member Board of Directors. The Northern Water Board members collectively bring comprehensive water expertise to every meeting and further demonstrate geographical representation across the district’s eight-county service area.

The day-to-day workload commensurate with capturing and delivering a critical water supply to farmland, residence and industry in Northeastern Colorado requires having staff with immense knowledge, keen water awareness and institutional reflection. Additionally, our staff is looking beyond the existing infrastructure and services that reliably provide nearly a quarter million acre-feet of water to the region and are focused on “next steps” by taking proactive measures today to prepare for tomorrow’s water resource needs. Northern Water’s future includes the care and investments necessary to maintain and operate existing facilities, while “paying-it-forward” to future generations who will reside in Northeastern Colorado. Planning for the future includes bringing additional supply online while equally relying on a culture shift toward using existing supplies with a heightened water ethic.

To tackle the diverse workload related to managing water resources with a 21st century flair, Northern Water relies on nearly 200 staff organized among four divisions which include: Operations, Finance and Administration, Environmental Services and Engineering. The staff working within these divisions are further arranged among 23 organizational departments. Albeit an organizational structure is necessary to provide some semblance of order, Northern Water staff are world class in their ability to perform across departmental and divisional lines, all while sharing the enormous responsibility to provide a critical water supply to our region now and into the future.

While some staff are on the front line of capturing, storing, scheduling and delivering water, many are providing equally critical jobs behind the scenes. These support roles are immense and include administering Northern Water’s contracts and finances, maintaining both facilities and rolling assets that span several counties, working closely with our federal partner, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and building on technology and data analysis that provides added precision to the execution of the organization’s mission. In addition, other Northern Water staff are focused on the means to lighten our environmental footprint, provide investments necessary to keep safety at the forefront, and communicate Northern Water’s cause in a multi-media fashion.

Our Future

Planning

We operate in a dynamic and evolving landscape where strategic planning is essential to ensure the sustainability, reliability, delivery and quality of its water supply. Water is integral to supporting our society and its economic vitality, residential and industrial needs, food production and environmental health. Transporting water across watersheds and jurisdictions inherently leaves an environmental footprint, necessitating proactive planning and engagement. The region faces increasing demands from population growth and associated water needs, compounded by climate change, which intensifies hydrological variability and stresses water supplies. In addition, the Colorado and South Platte Basins are subject to increased uncertainty due to competing water interests beyond state borders. In our watersheds, the frequency and severity of wildfires threaten water delivery capabilities, compromise quality and require proactive mitigation measures.

Protecting

At the local level, forces outside of Northeastern Colorado pose a significant threat to the nearby agricultural economy and to native water supplies that are sometimes targeted by communities beyond our boundaries to bolster their own water needs for the future. Losses of supply to meet water demands beyond our boundaries might ultimately negate the investments made locally in water supply projects and initiatives.

Maintaining

We are committed to our delivery obligations to allottees. Aging infrastructure of the more than 70-year-old Colorado-Big Thompson Project demands ongoing maintenance and significant investments to ensure reliability and uninterrupted service to meet year-round residential and industrial demands. We will seek opportunities to invest in system improvements and new infrastructure to ensure system resilience. The organization must also address challenges associated with regulatory and political shifts, which influence project timelines, operations and obligations tied to federally owned water systems.

Leading

Internally, we prioritize employee safety and strive to cultivate a resilient and engaged workforce—one where employees feel valued, informed and inspired. Preserving institutional knowledge, fostering a culture of innovation and promoting organizational development and best business practices are key to maintaining operational excellence and leading the organization into the future. 

Safeguarding

Finally, safeguarding Northern Water’s infrastructure and operations from physical and cybersecurity threats remains critical as it continues to navigate evolving demands in its pursuit to deliver water to sustain communities, economies and ecosystems.