The Colorado Water Congress is seeking an intern for summer 2026. In addition to working with the Water Congress in preparation for our Summer Conference, you will have the opportunity for mentorship by 6-8 different water leaders around Colorado on a rotating basis. For students seeking more insight into the water industry, this offers the chance for invaluable experience.

Internship Overview

Location: Denver, CO (Hybrid)

Duration: Summer (12 weeks)

Hours: Half Time

Compensation: Unpaid

Additional Benefits: 

• All travel and lodging expenses paid
• Access to 1-on-1 mentorship with 6-8 different water leaders around the State
• Grow professionally and personally through unique networking opportunities
• Gain invaluable experience and education in the water sector
• Participate in the 2026 Colorado Water Congress Summer Conference 

About Colorado Water Congress 

The Colorado Water Congress is an instrumentality of the State of Colorado, established in 1958 by the Governor and Attorney General’s office. We serve as the principal voice of Colorado's water community. Through member forums and committees, the Colorado Water Congress provides strong leadership and thoughtful action to serve Colorado's needs to manage, protect, conserve, and develop our most valuable natural resource. Our belief is that the State of Colorado’s water impacts the State’s well-being. We are dedicated to successful promotion of policy that supports high-quality, sustainable water supplies through the protection of water rights, conservation, planning, management, and infrastructure investment. We strive for thoughtful and equitable development and administration of water laws, regulations, and compacts. 

Position Summary

Colorado Water Congress seeks a motivated and detail-oriented summer intern to support its policy efforts, communications, and summer conference planning. This internship offers hands-on exposure to Colorado water law and policy, member engagement, and event planning. The intern will work closely with CWC staff and will also shadow 6-8 Water Congress board members in their respective companies and organizations to gain a broader understanding of professions in the water sector. 

Key Responsibilities

• Support planning and execution of the Water Congress Summer Conference 
• Attend committee meetings, webinars, and special events 
• Assist with communications, social media, and website content
• Shadow and engage with 6-8 different member organizations from around the State to gain a broader sense of Colorado water issues
• Publish a reflection paper on each shadow experience
• Present paper findings to the CWC Board of Directors at the September Board meeting
• Other duties as assigned 

Qualifications

• Current undergraduate or graduate student (or recent graduate) in a relevant field such as: Water resources, Environmental Studies, Public Policy, Political Science, Natural Resource Management, Law or related disciplines
• Strong research, writing, and communication skills
• Interest in water policy, natural resources, or government affairs
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines 

How to Apply 

Interested candidates should submit: Resume, brief cover letter describing interest in Colorado water issues and the internship program, and up to 3 references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The final deadline to apply is March 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

2026 Internship Schedule

Week 1: June 1st - 5th: CWC Welcome & Onboarding
Week 2: June 8th - 12th: CWC
Week 3: June 15th - 19th: Ute Water Conservancy District
Week 4: June 22nd - 26th: CWC
Week 5: June 29th - July 3rd: Denver Water
Week 6: July 6th - 10th: CWC
Week 7: July 13th - 17th: San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District
Week 8: July 20th - 24th: CWC
Week 9: July 27th - 31st: Occidental Petroleum Corporation
Week 10: August 3rd - 7th: CWC
Week 11: August 10th - 14th: Molson Coors Beverage Co.
Week 12: August 17th - 21st: CWC Summer Conference in Steamboat Springs, CO