Christine Arbogast
Christine Arbogast is a native Coloradan, born in Pueblo and a graduate of Southern Colorado State College, now Colorado State University at Pueblo. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in both journalism and political science.
That educational focus has carried forward in Christine's professional life. Following graduation, she was a reporter and editor in Canon City, Colorado, and then a news and feature writer for the Durango Herald in the southwestern corner of the state. It was there that her interest in Native American issues and water resources began, and she was fortunate to be able to transfer that interest to a new career path in politics and government.
Christine began work with Congressman Ray Kogovsek in 1979, when he was elected to represent Colorado's sprawling Third District, which included nearly half of the state and reflected its diverse interests. She served as his press secretary and concentrated on legislative issues including Native American affairs, water, agriculture and local government.
She remained in Washington until July of 1984, and returned to Colorado to work as a special projects administrator for the Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture at the time the department was establishing its Always Buy Colorado program, now known as Colorado Proud.
In 1985, Christine returned to work for Ray Kogovsek, who had chosen not to run for re-election to Congress. Since then, the small firm has worked primarily in the Western states on resource and tribal issues as well as local government concerns, capital construction projects and public land use.
Christine received the National Water Resources Lifetime Achievement Award October 1, 2024
K&A President Christine thanks the members of the National Water Resources Association after they presented her with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Christine has been active in NWRA for 39 years and serves as its Federal Affairs Committee Chair and is a former Presidentof the water advocacy organization.
Christine has begun a two-year term as president of the Colorado Water Congress, the state’s umbrella organization for all things Colorado water.
Newly Appointed Executive Director of the Colorado Water Congress Chane’ Polo, and Christine Arbogast, who began a two year term as CWC President on October 1.The CWC named Christine the Aspinall Water Leader of the Year in 2020, citing a long-term commitment and contribution to the statewide water community. She was the third woman to receive the award in more than 40 years. She also serves as vice-chair of its federal affairs committee and is the board liaison to the federal agencies and congressional delegation. She is the former President of the National Water Resources Association and has led its federal affairs committee since 2014. In 2016, NWRA awarded to her the John F. Sullivan/G. Thomas Choules Award for one “whose service, promoting the regulatory/legislative/judicial agenda of the Association, was above and beyond that expected of a member of the leadership.” This award has been bestowed to only eight NWRA members. Christine is the founder of the Women in Water Scholarship Fund, which has provided six scholarships of $7,500 to young women pursuing careers in Western water resources. She is a member of the Colorado River Water Users’ Association, the Family Farm Alliance, the Nature Conservancy and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. Visit the WIW website Funding Women in Water
Women In Water Proudly awards sixth scholarship
The Women in Water Scholarship Fund board of directors is proud to announce our sixth scholarship winner for the 2024-2025 academic year. Leah Rose Mickelson is beginning her senior year at Oregon State University this fall.
“I am truly honored to be selected. It is incredibly motivating to know that my academic pursuits and future goals are supported by such an inspiring community of women leaders,” she said. “I am eager to excel in my studies and contribute meaningfully to my community in Canon City, Colorado. This scholarship provides immense support and I am deeply grateful for your investment in my future and empowering women in water leadership.”
See Leah's Essay Here
The academic year 2025-26 application process will open in April of 2025.
See former recipients Here
A brief history of the formation of Women in Water
At the Colorado River Water Users' Association annual meeting in Las Vegas five years ago, Cheryl Zittle and Christine Arbogast decided over a glass of wine together to form Women in Water. Our first meeting was at the NWRA Federal Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C. in early April of 2018 and subsequent meetings led to the creation of the Women in Water Scholarship Fund. Visit
Who are Women in Water?
"When I first "joined" the western water community in 1985, water leadership was provided by directors of water district boards, district general managers, and water lawyers. Nearly all were men." said Women in Water scholarship fund President, Christine Arbogast.
The face of the community has changed considerably since then. In all walks of the western water world, women are in high-profile, leadership positions which help influence the water policy so critical to the semi-arid West.
Camille Camlimlum Touton serves as the the Bureau of Reclamation’s second woman Commissioner, following the historical service of Brenda Burman, who now leads the Central Arizona Water Conservancy District.
Cheryl Zittle formerly of the Salt River Project was the first female president of the National Water Resources Association, and Christine Arbogast completed a two-year term as President.
Chane’ Polo was unanimously selected by the Colorado Water Congress board of directors to serve as its Executive Director.
The new executive Director of the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District is Leann Noga.
April Snell is the executive director of the Oregon Water Resources Association.
Leslie James leads the Colorado River Electric Distributors' Association.
The Texas Water Conservation Association is led by Stacey Steinbach.
The nine-member Colorado Water Conservation Board has had multiple female members, and several Executive Directors who are women, including newly appointed Lauren Ris.
Becky Mitchell is the first full-time Upper Colorado River Commissioner housed in the office of the Governor.
And the list of talented engineers, lawyers, governmental affairs directors, managers and board members goes on and on.