Jim Lochhead
Jim Lochhead is recognized as one of the nation’s foremost water rights and natural resources attorneys. He is the former executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, where he oversaw departments that included the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Minerals and Geology, Water Resources, Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Soil Conservation Board, and State Land Board and Wildlife.
He also was a shareholder at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, where he worked on issues relating to water rights, interstate and international water matters, Endangered Species Act, public lands and natural resources, state and federal public policy, zoning, land use and real estate development.
Lochhead lived in Glenwood Springs for more than 30 years before moving to Denver. He received his bachelor’s degree in environmental biology from the University of Colorado in 1974, and his law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1978.
He has experience on a wide range of issues, having represented hydroelectric utilities, developers, ski areas, municipalities, states and special districts in all types of water supply planning, permitting, water court matters and litigation. He has negotiated interstate, basin-wide endangered species recovery programs for the Platte and Colorado River Basins. He has testified before Congressional and state legislative committees, and drafted federal and state legislation. He also has expertise in zoning, land use and real estate development.
Lochhead currently serves on the State Board of Great Outdoors Colorado. He has served on the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Colorado’s Roadless Area Task Force, the Board of Directors for Colorado Conservation Trust, the Board of Trustees for Colorado Water Trust, the Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado, and The Nature Conservancy Colorado Program.
Jim Lochhead is a former runner and triathlete who now enjoys golf and skiing.
The CEO/Manager is the chief executive officer for Denver Water, secretary to the Board of Water commissioners and custodian of all records. He carries out all other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Board as it fulfills its charter obligations.
The CEO/Manager executes the policies and decisions of the Board and reviews and recommends to the Board changes in rules and regulations with respect to all matters appropriate for its action.
In addition, the CEO/Manager gives overall direction to employees and oversees the work necessary to provide an adequate supply of water to the residents of the City and County of Denver, and areas economically and socially integrated with the city with whom Denver Water has a water service contract.
The CEO/Manager represents the Board in ongoing relationships with all levels of government, community organizations and the public served, and recommends to the Board a rate structure and other income producing procedures that will assure adequate revenues to meet operating and maintenance costs, finance of ongoing capital improvement programs, and the principal and interest payments on long-term debts.
Eight division directors, the general counsel, the internal auditor and the deputy manager of organization improvement report directly to the CEO/Manager.