Denver City Wire

In a statement on Dec. 8, Denver Water CEO Jim Lochhead announced he would be departing from Denver Water.

Lochhead is proud to leave the organization "well positioned for the future, having successfully managed multiple initiatives through the pandemic." He also noted that Denver Water has recently renewed its "strategic plan and are successfully implementing a 10-year, $2.3 billion system investment plan.”

“It is with deep, mixed emotions that I’ve made the decision to step away from Denver Water after 12 years of service to this amazing community and organization," Lochhead said. "After giving it a great amount of thought, I feel now is the right time, based on where we are as an organization."

Lochhead has served as Denver Water's CEO and manager since his appointment in 2010. Denver Water's website lists his other leadership roles and accolades including being a board member of a variety of water agencies and organizations. In 2014, Lochhead received the Wayne N. Aspinall “Water Leader of the Year” award from the Colorado Water Congress, presented annually to a Coloradan demonstrating courage, dedication, knowledge and leadership in the development, protection and preservation of Colorado water. In 2015, Lochhead received the President’s Award from the Colorado Foundation for Water Education, given to a person doing meaningful work in the field of water.

Lochhead's replacement will be immediately sought by the Denver Board of Water Commissioners by working with an executive search firm noting the organization's accomplishments of Denver Water under Lochhead’s leadership since 2010. 

Denver Board of Water President Craig Jones said it has "been truly remarkable.” Lochhead, according to Jones, strengthened the "operational efficiencies, while leading a new era of cooperation for water in the West, ensuring a reliable water system and securing future water supplies for the Denver metropolitan area." Jones added that they "appreciate Jim’s work to put the organization in a strong position for a seamless transition along with his willingness to continue leading the utility so we can make our decision carefully and thoughtfully, without disruption to our critical community mission.”

Colorado Water Congress executive director Doug Kemper told Colorado Politics, that they “[will] miss Jim’s wisdom. There is a wide range of things Jim has been involved with in the water community, from developing cooperative agreements on the Colorado River to the leadership Jim has shown on both sides of the mountains. There has never been anyone like him.”