colorado watershed assembly

What colorado watershed assembly does

Colorado Watershed Assembly (CWA) is a Colorado-based non-profit network organization that supports collaborative efforts to protect and improve the state's land, water, and natural resources. Its stated function is to connect a diversity of interests with Colorado's local watershed groups and decision makers. The organization operates as a convener and funding intermediary rather than a product company, with no proprietary technology platform; its core "technology" is the relational infrastructure across watershed groups, state agencies, and educators.

The organization's product and program portfolio comprises four offerings: (1) the Colorado Healthy Rivers Fund, a state-chartered grant program established by the Colorado General Assembly in 2002 and funded through the Individual Income Tax Refund Check-off Program, which matches donations at a $6-to-$1 ratio and distributes funds to local watershed restoration projects; (2) the Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference, an annual flagship event co-hosted with the Colorado Foundation for Water Education and the Colorado Riparian Association (2026 theme "Across the Divide," October 6-8); (3) the Water Education Exemplars Project (WEEP), a quality-control evaluation system launched in 2025 that applies research-based Guidelines for Excellence in Environmental Education to vet K-16 water education resources, with a $125,000/year budget planned for 2026-2030; and (4) the Inflow Newsletter, a free bi-monthly electronic publication covering funding, jobs, conferences, and trainings for the Colorado water sector.

The business model is non-commercial. Revenue is sourced from tax check-off donations (amplified by the $6-to-$1 state match), external grants such as a $200,000 award from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and conference sponsorships and registration. CWA serves Colorado's local watershed groups (including the Big Thompson Watershed Coalition, Central Colorado Conservancy, Colorado Water Trust, Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project, Rocky Mountain Field Institute, and Wildland Restoration Volunteers), water-resource decision makers, K-16 educators and students, and youth aged 16-24 recruited through WEEP. Operations are run by a small team (1-10 employees) based at a Glendale/Denver mailing address (P.O. Box 460736, Glendale, CO 80246).

Name

colorado watershed assembly

Legal name

Colorado Watershed Assembly

Website

https://coloradowater.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Colorado Watershed Assembly is a Colorado-based non-profit network that connects local watershed groups with decision makers, educators, and funders through grants, an annual conference, the Water Education Exemplars Project, and a bi-monthly newsletter.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Watershed Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (924120), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE), Watershed Protection & Water Quality Services (AFAMAMAB)

Keywords

• Watershed conservation
• Water resource management
• Environmental education
• Nonprofit grant programs
• Watershed restoration

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Colorado Healthy Rivers Fund Donations: The fund was established by the Colorado General Assembly in 2002 and is funded through the Colorado Individual Income Tax Refund Check-off Program. Donations are matched at a rate of $6 for every $1 donated, enabling larger on-the-ground watershed restoration projects.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Colorado Watershed Assembly is a nonprofit network that connects diverse interests with Colorado's watershed groups and decision makers. It operates the Colorado Healthy Rivers Fund (a matching grant program funding on-the-ground watershed restoration projects), runs the annual Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference, manages the Water Education Exemplars Project (a quality evaluation system for K-16 water education resources), and distributes the bi-monthly Inflow Newsletter.

Product overview

Colorado Watershed Assembly operates as a non-profit network organization offering a portfolio of programs focused on watershed conservation and water education. Its primary offerings include the annual Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference (an in-person event with virtual components), the Colorado Healthy Rivers Fund (a grant program for watershed restoration projects with an associated interactive mapping tool), the Water Education Exemplars Project (an evaluation system for K-16 water education resources), and the Inflow Newsletter (a bi-monthly communication providing water sector news and opportunities). The organization serves as a convener connecting watershed groups, decision-makers, and water stakeholders across Colorado.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference Annual flagship conference bringing together water professionals, researchers, educators, and stakeholders to discuss watershed health, water policy, and conservation strategies across Colorado.
• Colorado Healthy Rivers Fund Grant program that funds on-the-ground watershed restoration projects, providing financial support to local organizations for water quality improvements, wildlife habitat enhancement, and recreation improvements throughout Colorado. Donations are matched at $6 per $1 donated.
• Water Education Exemplars Project Quality control evaluation system for K-16 water education resources, applying research-based Guidelines for Excellence in Environmental Education to identify and certify the best educational materials for teaching about Colorado's water.
• Inflow Newsletter Bi-monthly electronic newsletter providing funding opportunities, job announcements, conferences, trainings, workshops, and water-related news to Colorado water sector subscribers.
• Colorado Healthy Rivers Fund Interactive Map Interactive web-based ArcGIS mapping tool showing projects funded by the Colorado Healthy Rivers Fund across Colorado.

Quantifiable outcome

• $6 matched for every $1 donated to Colorado Healthy Rivers Fund
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and key individual.

• Colorado Water Center (Colorado State University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Water Education Exemplars Project; hosts Colorado Water Fellows Program recognized as a 2025 Water Education Exemplar; supports youth development in water sector careers
• Colorado Alliance for Environmental EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in Water Education Exemplars Project providing expertise in environmental education evaluation and standards
• Water Education ColoradocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating organization supporting water education initiatives and recognized as partner in Basin Implementation Plans
• Colorado Foundation for Water EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference alongside Colorado Riparian Association; provides water education resources and programs
• Colorado Riparian AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference; professional organization focused on riparian ecosystem conservation
• Colorado Water Conservation BoardcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerState agency partner supporting watershed restoration and water conservation; collaborated on conferences and funding initiatives
• Donny Roush (Certified Master Environmental Educator)key individualOthersLead for Water Education Exemplars Project; member of Statewide Water Education Action Plan task force; Guidelines for Excellence in Environmental Education Trainers' Bureau member since 2006; only Coloradan to serve on national writing team for Environmental Education Program Guidelines revision

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• River Network: National non-profit supporting local watershed groups with capacity-building, training, and convening; analogous to CWA's role but at the national scale and targeting the same constituency of grassroots water groups.
• Colorado Foundation for Water Education: Colorado-focused non-profit dedicated to water education and informed decision-making; co-hosts the Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference with CWA and offers overlapping programs (newsletter, publications, events) for the same audience.
• Water Education Colorado: Non-profit promoting water awareness and education across Colorado; listed as a collaborating organization on Basin Implementation Plans and overlapping with CWA's K-16 education mission.
• Western Resource Advocates: Regional non-profit dedicated to protecting the West's land, water, and communities; runs matching-style funding mechanisms and convenes stakeholders across Colorado and neighboring states on water issues directly overlapping with CWA's mission.
• Colorado Riparian Association: Statewide professional association focused on riparian ecosystem conservation in Colorado; co-hosts the Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference and shares CWA's constituency of watershed professionals and restoration practitioners.
• American Rivers: National advocacy non-profit focused on river and watershed protection; comparable model of grant-making, policy advocacy, and member engagement that operates at scale CWA could aspire toward.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy (Colorado Chapter): Global conservation organization with major Colorado operations in watershed protection, riparian restoration, and water funding; much larger scale and broader portfolio but overlapping constituency and grant-making role in Colorado watersheds.
• Trust for Public Land: National non-profit that funds and executes land and water conservation projects including in Colorado; analogous funder/grantor role for watershed restoration with substantially larger financial capacity.

Others

• EarthShare: Federation model for workplace giving to environmental non-profits; represents a comparable donor-aggregation and distribution mechanism that could complement or compete with CWA's Healthy Rivers Fund donation model.
• Colorado Water Conservation Board: State agency administering water policy and funding programs; a GTM/marketing partner of CWA and a major funder/convener for many of the same watershed groups CWA serves, making it both an enabler and a potential alternative convening body.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about colorado watershed assembly