In Colorado, where water rights are strictly governed and water supplies can be scant, the job of a water conservationist requires immediate action and a long-range viewpoint.
Fort Collins water conservationist Laurie D’Audney says her role is to help utility officials and political leaders prepare for the future, while keeping a close eye on the water available for the summer. The city’s education programs include classroom sessions and an audit program that helps residents get a handle on irrigation water.
Fort Collins, in the foothills of the eastern face of the Rocky Mountains, averages 16 inches in annual precipitation. Home to 150,000
