Denver’s dry winter has done nothing if not underscore the tenuous nature of water supply along the Front Range. Highlands Ranch Library invites the public to participate in a timely forum, “Insights on Front Range Water Issues,” at 7 p.m. Jan. 20.

The forum will be presented by Patty Limerick of the CU Center of the American West and John Hendrick of the South Metro Water Supply Authority. Registration is free at 303-791-7323 or DouglasCountyLibraries.org.

Limerick and Hendrick will provide a brief history of Denver Water’s development and how it became the state’s largest municipal water supplier. They will also comment on water supplies in our region and how they will serve current and future demands in Colorado.

Limerick has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between academics and the general public and to demonstrating the benefits of applying historical perspective to contemporary dilemmas and conflicts. The Center of the American West, at the University of Colorado at Boulder, is one of the region’s most creative and innovative organizations in identifying and addressing such crucial issues as multiculturalism, community building, fire policy, and land, water and energy use.

Hendrick has played a major role in guiding a cooperative regional water supply investigation. He is general manager of Centennial Water and Sanitation District, which serves Highlands Ranch, and also a past president of SMWSA. His specialties include water project development, project management, water rights and portfolio evaluations, demand projections, operation studies, and water quality.