Rocky Ford Forum Draws Strong Community Engagement

More than 150 people attended The Colorado Sun’s Arkansas River water panel in Rocky Ford on May 7, highlighting how important water and irrigated agriculture are to residents of the Lower Arkansas Valley and communities across the basin.

Farmers and community members asked meaningful and direct questions of the panelists about future water needs, community impacts, and water quality concerns. Michael Booth, environment reporter for The Colorado Sun, did a fantastic job facilitating a thoughtful and respectful conversation throughout the evening.

The panel featured representatives from Colorado Springs Utilities and Aurora Water alongside local leaders and experts from the Lower Valley, creating an important opportunity for public dialogue grounded in the rural communities most directly affected by growth decisions made along the Front Range.

We are deeply grateful to The Colorado Sun team for bringing this event to Rocky Ford. Hosting the discussion in the Lower Arkansas Valley meant a great deal to the local community and helped ensure the conversation remained connected to the people and places experiencing the impacts of these issues every day.