On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, Water Education Colorado recognized Kyle Whitaker with the 2025 Greg Hobbs Next Wave Leadership Award. Read more about the award and past award winners here.
Kyle is the Water Rights Manager for Northern Water, where he has worked since 2018. He is well known and respected statewide for his leadership in programs on both the South Platte River and the Colorado River.
Eric Wilkinson, former General Manager of Northern Water, is a huge fan of Kyle’s. “He has practical knowledge and is always looking for solutions. He’s a true leader and puts so much time into his roles.”
Growing up in the White River Basin in western Colorado, attending college in Fort Collins, and then spending 18 years with the Division 5 (Colorado River) Engineer’s Office prepared him well to pursue cooperative, collaborative solutions to many of the state’s pressing water issues.
With his background on both sides of the Divide, Kyle is often asked to serve on statewide water-related efforts and programs. He is currently the Colorado Water Users representative to the Platte River Recovery Program’s Governance Committee and co-chair of the Water Users Group for the Upper Colorado River Recovery Program.
Does he enjoy the work? “It’s a real challenge, but I like to think I can help bring people together to find mutually beneficial outcomes, while protecting the state’s positions.”
There is no shortage of challenges on both river basin fronts. In the South Platte, now in the middle of a 13-year increment to the Recovery Program, the State of Nebraska has a pending lawsuit against Colorado. In the Colorado River Basin, new guidelines and operating criteria for the entire basin are on the horizon.
“In any instance, Colorado water users will have to adapt. We hope it brings more certainty, but there may be some difficult times ahead.”
Through it all, Kyle remains optimistic and emphasizes that cooperative and collaborative solutions are best for everyone.
Wilkinson adds, “Kyle is very subtle in his leadership—not dominating—and he convinces you rather than tells you.”
Kyle served as Assistant Division Engineer with the Colorado Division of Water Resources in Division 5 (Colorado River Basin) for 18 years, where he learned the ins and outs of water administration in the Colorado River Basin. In this role, he reviewed and consulted on water court matters, assisted with reservoir and augmentation plan administration, and developed accounting systems.
As Water Rights Manager for Northern Water, Kyle oversees interstate, intrastate, local, and stakeholder-led programs for both the Colorado River and the Platte River. He also manages and protects Northern Water’s water rights assets.
He is a member of the Upper Colorado Wild and Scenic Stakeholders group, serves on the Water Advisory Committee for the Platte River Recovery Program (in addition to his role on the Governance Committee), and is part of the Water Acquisition Committee for the Upper Colorado Endangered Species Program.
And in case that isn’t enough, he is also the water conservancy district appointee to the South Platte Water Resources Advisory Project, or SPWRAP, and served on the Colorado River Drought Task Force in 2023.
How does he balance all these committees and programs?
“There is so much to learn from colleagues in other parts of Colorado and other western states. Having the opportunity to learn from their experiences—and see how approaches might be applied in other basins—is invaluable and helps avoid win-lose outcomes.”
When asked if he had any contact with Justice Hobbs in his career, Kyle laughed and recalled his one appearance before him on the Supreme Court. “I was working for the State Engineer’s Office and had submitted a memo related to a water case being tried before the Colorado Supreme Court. Greg held both memos—mine and the opposing side’s—up in the air and asked pointedly, ‘What does this have to do with the price of tea in China!’ I’ll never forget having my name mentioned in the Supreme Court—and needless to say, Justice Hobbs was not impressed.”
In summing up Kyle’s style, Wilkinson said, “He makes the Energy Bunny look like a slacker, and he never looks tired!”
Kyle has a B.S. in Civil Engineering and an M.S. in Water Resources Engineering from Colorado State University. He and his wife, Sherry, have three grown sons, all recently graduated from college and beginning their own careers.
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