Apply for our 2024 Colorado River Water Leaders program to deepen your knowledge of the inconic Southwest river, build leadership skills and develop policy ideas with a cohort to improve management of the region’s most crucial natural resource.

Our biennial Water Leaders program, part of our Colorado River Project, selects rising stars from the seven states that rely on the river – Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming.

Get an overview of the program and tips on applying by watching this virtual Q&A session. Applications are due Jan. 22, 2024 and you can find application materials here along with mandatory program dates.

“I highly recommend the program to emerging water leaders. The program’s immersive experience, relationship building and mentorship opportunities cultivate leadership and collaborative skills crucial for addressing complex challenges faced by all those who rely upon the Colorado River now and into the future.”

– JB Hamby, Class of ‘22 and Chair of the Colorado River Board of California

Applicants should be early to mid-career professionals in water-related organizations, including: state and federal agencies such as the Bureau of Reclamation, water and irrigation districts, tribal nations, environmental groups, agricultural interests, private companies and nongovernmental organizations. 

Cohorts have included lawyers, scientists, engineers, planners, educational and communication specialists, environmental advocates, farmers, tribal members or those who work for tribes on water issues.

During the program, each Water Leader is paired with a mentor who is a leading Colorado River expert, and works with their cohort  to develop policy recommendations on an assigned topic.

The program begins with an orientation and dinner in Las Vegas the evening of March 12 before the three-day Lower Colorado River Tour, March 13-15, and will conclude at our Colorado River Symposium in Santa Fe, Sept. 24-27, where members of the cohort will present their policy recommendations.

Go to our application page to find out how to apply and get more details, including tuition and mandatory program dates.