To most people the term “roundtable” often conjures thoughts of
chivalric knights in shining armor. Perhaps that explains the
smirk I’ve seen while explaining Colorado’s roundtable process
for water policy discussions to friends, family, and
acquaintances. However, this comparison of medieval legend with
seemingly boring water policy meetings is more apt than many
would suppose. In fact, there are many parallels between the
medieval roundtable in days of yore and today’s basin
roundtables (BRTs) in Colorado, including their origin, process,
goals, personalities, and even sometimes provision of food and
drink (been to a South Platte BRT lately?). If people only knew
how fascinating and utterly entertaining water roundtable
meetings can be. Origin – The tale of King Arthur and his
Knights of the Round Table originates in Arthurian legend in
1155, not far from “1177”, the origin, or authorizing
legislation from the Colorado General Assembly for the “Colorado
Water for the 21st Century Act” (HB 05-1177). This leg