We spoke with Leann Noga, a current Water Education Colorado board member, and executive director of the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District for the Spring 2025 issue of Headwaters magazine, which focuses on water markets.
Can you share with us a little background on your work and career and how it’s led to your involvement in the water conversation?
I grew up in Pueblo County, then I went away for a little while for college and came back. Growing up, I was always aware of the importance of water in our state, at least in Southern Colorado. I grew up in eastern Pueblo County around all the agriculture farms that grew Pueblo Chili, vegetables, and feed products. I have extended family and amazing friends who are still farmers, though my direct family were not farmers. My dad was an engineer on the railroad, and my mom worked at the steel mill here in Pueblo. I was aware of water, the need for it, and the many water quality problems.
I have been with the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District for over 20 years. Over this time, I have held a number of administration and finance roles. In March 2024, I started as the executive director of the district. A big part of my role is to carry forward the message of the district board of directors to our stakeholders, as well as build and support a great team in the office. Even though I’m not new to the district or the district’s projects, I’m fairly new to this role. We have a small but mighty staff, we’re currently 11 staff members, including myself. We’re not huge, but we do big things!
What does your role look like with the Southeastern Water Conservancy District?
The executive director’s role includes carrying forward the message of our board as I mentioned before. We will be producing a revised strategic plan that is on the ticket for later this year. In addition, I work on supporting the staff and making sure we’re building a quality team. We actually are going through some hiring processes right now and I am working on making sure that we have everything in order before we develop a final strategic direction that we’ll move forward with. Our current strategic plan is over 20 years old, so it’s time to revisit and refresh. We will be walking through a visionary type of plan with forward movement and making sure that our mission and values are still on track.
Could you discuss the Federal Fryingpan-Arkansas Project with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation? What is the purpose of this project, and how does it operate?
The Fryingpan-Arkansas Project and the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District go hand in hand. The district boundary includes portions of nine Colorado counties; Chaffee, Fremont, Pueblo, El Paso, Otero, Crowley, Bent, Prowers, and Kiowa counties. The district is specific to property line boundaries. As a district, we collect a tax base from each one of the property owners within our district, and that is actually the stakeholders that we serve. The district is the partner with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to support the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project (Fry-Ark Project).
The Fry-Ark Project is a Bureau of Reclamation trans-mountain diversion that supplies southeastern Colorado with supplemental water supply for irrigation, municipal and industrial uses, hydroelectric power generation, and recreational opportunities. The Fry-Ark Project also provides flood control for the area and is designed to maintain or improve fish and wildlife habitats. The project diverts water from the Western Slope of Colorado over the Continental Divide and delivers it via the Arkansas River. The Fry-Ark Project is owned by Reclamation. However, the district and Reclamation has a very strong partnership in the project. Reclamation operates the project, and the district is responsible for portions of the debt, operations, maintenance, and replacement costs of the project.
The district holds the responsibility of taking the water for the Fry-Ark Project and equitably allocating that water using our principles and policies so that municipalities and agricultural entities have their fair share. The district works closely with the Bureau of Reclamation and the region’s division engineer regarding the Fry-Ark system and movement of water.
It’s a supplemental affordable water source, and that really is the reason behind the project.
One of the other major water projects in Southeastern Colorado is the Arkansas Valley Conduit. Would you mind describing the district’s role in this project and what it is going to look like in the future?
The Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC) is the largest construction project that the district is working on with Reclamation. The AVC was an original portion of the 1962 Fry-Ark Project legislation due to poor water quality. The AVC was never built simply because of the costs. About 20 years ago the district started working with Reclamation regarding the AVC to address clean drinking water in the portion of the district east of Pueblo. The AVC Project is a 130-mile pipeline starting just east of the City of Pueblo and ending in the City of Lamar that supplies clean drinking water to an estimated 50,000 people. Most water in this area is pumped from wells that are experiencing naturally occurring contaminants in the groundwater. The AVC Project will not only help communities meet drinking water standards but also will help on the back end with wastewater standards.
Over the past 20 years, we have obtained federal legislation to change the from 100% of participant cost to 35%, with 65% being supported by the federal government. In addition, we have received multiple federal funding appropriations to continue design and, as of 2022, to start the construction of the project. In January 2025 Reclamation announced our biggest allocation of federal funding yet of $250 million. The district’s goal is to complete the AVC Project as soon as possible. It is a 130-mile clean drinking water pipeline and it’s going to take time. This newest announcement of federal funding will give us a big lift in design and construction.
We have an amazing team that works with our federal senators and congressional representatives to secure federal funding in the President’s budget. The goal is to reach as many AVC participants as soon as possible.
It’s hard to believe that in our amazing state of Colorado where all water flows out of our state, there’s anyone that doesn’t have clean drinking water. I am proud to be a small part of a big-impact project like the Arkansas Valley Conduit.
Do you have any education and outreach programs to reach stakeholders and members of the community who are in need?
We completed a communication plan in early 2024, when I first took this position. With the help of Chris Woodka, our communications specialist, we developed a communication plan for the Arkansas Valley Conduit because we had heard and got information that over time, we weren’t communicating the project well enough. I think our biggest outreach right now is with that municipal pipeline project [(the Ark-Valley Conduit) and communicating with participants. The goal is to speak to them about not only their needs but also what we need from them to make sure that we’re designing the delivery lines correctly. We are working on making sure we are on the same page with agreements and their water portfolio.
The AVC participants have been working hard and doing everything they can to improve their water systems but like in most cases we can do better together. I think the biggest thing is communication with our participants when it comes to outreach and education.
What led you to join the board for Water Education Colorado, and do you have anything to say about your time on the board or our work?
I am one of two positions on the WEco board that was appointed by Colorado Water Congress. I’ve really enjoyed my time on the board. Really what drove me to agree to be on the board was I attended the 2017 Water Leaders Program, which opened my eyes about the water industry and the networking that it provides. The Water Leaders Program helps you not only understand what kind of leader you are but also helps shape what kind of leader you will be in the future. It really provides opportunities and gives you a little perspective in a very truthful and tactful manner to let you know how others perceive you. I think that’s important.
I also plan on utilizing the education programs that Water Education Colorado has to help train future employees, depending on who we find and what levels they come in at. As a newer leader myself with a goal to build the district team, I plan to depend on WEco for water education.
As for the board, I’ve been on the finance committee. I have a finance background. With that said, nonprofit is different than governmental finance and or corporate finance. I’ve gotten a lot from the differences and the leadership. The finance committee does a fabulous job explaining the differences, which is challenging sometimes.
Stay tuned for more on water markets in Colorado in the Spring 2025 issue of Headwaters magazine.
As Executive Director of the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Leann Noga is committed to providing effective leadership, ethical standards and a shared vision for the District’s Board, staff and stakeholders. She became Executive Director in March 2024 as part of her 20-year career with the District. During that time, she has helped build a strong foundation for finance, administration, Fryingpan-Arkansas Project administration, the Arkansas Valley Conduit and numerous other projects. Her goal is to continue improving all areas touched by the District in its quest to provide water to the people of Southeastern Colorado. Leann has bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University in Business Management and Administration, and a Master of Finance. She lives in Avondale, Colorado with her husband of 20 years and their three children.
Print