Four States Irrigation Council Annual Meeting Set for Jan. 14-15 in Northglenn, CO – Tri-State Livestock News

Report on the Four States Irrigation Council 2026 Annual Meeting

Event Overview and Strategic Importance

The Four States Irrigation Council will convene its 2026 Annual Meeting on January 14-15 in Northglenn, Colorado. This event serves as a critical multi-stakeholder forum dedicated to addressing timely water-infrastructure issues within the region, which includes Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. The meeting will bring together a diverse group of participants to foster collaboration and advance sustainable water management practices.

• Date: January 14-15, 2026
• Location: Delta Hotel, Northglenn, Colorado
• Participants: Ditch and irrigation company representatives, state and federal officials, farmers, university staff, industry experts, the general public, and media.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The council’s meeting agenda and organizational priorities demonstrate a strong commitment to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to water, food security, infrastructure, and environmental protection.

Emphasis on SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The core focus of the meeting directly supports SDG 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water for all. Discussions and presentations will center on strategies to enhance water-use efficiency and protect vital water resources.

1. Sustainable Water Management: The council’s mission to promote the “wise use of the nation’s water resources” aligns with SDG Target 6.4, which calls for substantially increasing water-use efficiency across all sectors.
2. Infrastructure for Water Security: Presentations on critical water-infrastructure projects are essential for achieving SDG Target 6.5, implementing integrated water resources management.
3. Conservation and Efficiency: The event’s exploration of topics like on-farm irrigation efficiency and new developments in water measurement directly contributes to sustainable water withdrawals and supply.

Contributions to SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 15: Life on Land

By addressing the challenges facing irrigators, the council plays a pivotal role in ensuring sustainable food production systems (SDG 2) while balancing agricultural needs with environmental stewardship (SDG 15).

• Food Security: Improving irrigation efficiency is fundamental to sustainable agriculture and achieving Zero Hunger (SDG Target 2.4).
• Ecosystem Protection: A stated priority of the council is “balancing these needs with aquatic and wildlife concerns,” which supports the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems as outlined in SDG Target 15.1.

Focus on SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The meeting will serve as a platform for advancing resilient and sustainable infrastructure, a key component of SDG 9.

• Infrastructure Development: Updates from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and discussions on project financing will address the development of quality, reliable, and sustainable water infrastructure.
• Technological Innovation: Exhibitors will showcase the latest innovations, products, and services, promoting the adoption of new technologies to improve water management systems.

Fostering SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The annual meeting exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership, which is crucial for achieving the SDGs (SDG 17).

• Collaborative Forum: The event convenes government officials, private sector representatives (farmers, engineers), and academic experts to exchange ideas and develop solutions for shared water challenges.
• Knowledge Sharing: Presentations from entities like the Family Farm Alliance, state water resources offices, and universities facilitate the sharing of information and best practices across the region.

Organizational Mandate and Recognition

Established in 1952, the Four States Irrigation Council provides a consistent forum for advancing irrigation and water resource management. The annual Headgate awards, presented during the meeting, recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to these efforts, reinforcing the council’s commitment to leadership and progress in sustainable water use.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The article’s central theme is water management, focusing on irrigation, water infrastructure, efficient water use, and resource management, which are core components of SDG 6.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: By addressing irrigation for agriculture, the article directly connects to sustainable food production. Efficient water management is crucial for ensuring crop yields and food security, which is the primary goal of SDG 2.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article repeatedly emphasizes “water-infrastructure issues,” “critical water-infrastructure projects,” and the showcase of “latest innovations” and “new products and services,” aligning with the goal of building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The article mentions the council’s priority of “balancing these needs with aquatic and wildlife concerns,” which relates to the protection and sustainable use of freshwater ecosystems.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The Four States Irrigation Council itself is a multi-stakeholder partnership. It brings together government officials, farmers, engineers, university staff, and private companies to “exchange ideas and information, and develop solutions,” embodying the collaborative spirit of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors. The article directly addresses this by mentioning the council’s focus on “promoting more efficient use of water,” “on-farm irrigation efficiency,” and the “wise use of the nation’s water resources.”
   • Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels. The Four States Irrigation Council, which includes representatives from four states, government bodies, and various stakeholders, serves as a forum to “discuss water-delivery and irrigation-related issues,” which is a practical application of integrated water resources management at a regional level.

2. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices. The discussions on “improving agricultural conservation” and “on-farm irrigation efficiency” are aimed at making agriculture more sustainable and resilient, thereby supporting stable food production.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure. The meeting’s focus on “critical water-infrastructure projects,” “canal operations,” and “dam safety” directly relates to developing and maintaining the infrastructure necessary for water delivery and agriculture.

4. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems. The article implies this target through the council’s stated priority of “balancing these needs with aquatic and wildlife concerns,” acknowledging the need to manage water resources in a way that does not harm natural ecosystems.

5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The council is a clear example of such a partnership, comprising “irrigation and water district representatives, farmers, engineers, university staff, extension agents, government officials and others” working collaboratively on shared water issues.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official UN indicators, but it implies several practical measures and activities that can serve as indicators of progress:

• For Target 6.4 (Water-use efficiency): Progress can be measured by the development and adoption of “new developments in water measurement” and technologies that improve “on-farm irrigation efficiency.” The showcase of “latest innovations” and “new products and services” at the meeting suggests a focus on tracking these advancements.
• For Target 6.5 (Integrated water resources management): The existence and continued operation of the Four States Irrigation Council itself is an indicator. The annual meeting, where stakeholders “discuss water-delivery and irrigation-related issues, exchange ideas and information, and develop solutions,” serves as a measure of the degree of implementation of integrated management.
• For Target 9.1 (Resilient infrastructure): Progress can be indicated by the number of “critical water-infrastructure projects” discussed, planned, or implemented. Improvements in “dam safety” and “canal operations” would be specific metrics for this target.
• For Target 17.17 (Partnerships): The number and diversity of attendees at the annual meeting (“ditch and irrigation company representatives, state and federal officials, farmers and others”) can be used as an indicator of the strength and inclusivity of the partnership.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators Summary

Source: tsln.com