Rethinking Agricultural Efficiency – Return Flow Benefits to River Health

Melissa Wills

Melissa Wills is the Community Funding Partnership Program Manager for the Colorado River District – leading the District’s flagship funding program.  Melissa oversees the distribution of about $4 Million in grants annually and works closely with partners to execute strategic initiatives. In leading the program, she works closely with landowners, community leaders, nonprofits, and organizations to strategically position communities to be able to better adapt to a hotter and drier climate. She has over a decade of nonprofit and philanthropic experience through work with the Vail Valley Foundation and the completion of the El Pomar Foundation Fellowship Program - a two-year intensive nonprofit and philanthropic executive training in Colorado Springs. Melissa has been with the District since 2022. She lives in Carbondale, CO and can be found backcountry skiing, mountain biking, and backpacking.

The Urban-Rural Connection: Innovative Water Strategies to Avoid Buy-and-Dry