Fountain Creek Brewshed® Alliance
The Fountain Creek Brewshed® Alliance is a program of the Fountain Creek Watershed District. The Brewshed® Alliance’s goal is to engage citizens in conversations and actions that will lead to water protection and enhancement. The group consists of water resource and craft brewing industry professionals connecting our communities to the shared values of healthy watersheds and locally made beer through education and events. Do you know of a Colorado craft brewery or taphouse that wants to be a part of the Brewshed® Alliance? Interested in volunteering at events? Email us at fountaincreekoutreach@gmail.com.
Raise a Glass to Colorado Brews
Colorado has a very strong brewery presence, with over 30 microbreweries operating throughout Colorado Springs, plus more in other parts of the watershed. Beer is composed of 90-95% water, and good water quality is a high priority for the craft brewing industry. Those businesses simply would not exist without high-quality water. Breweries are a gathering place for our communities. They are somewhere you visit with visitors from out of town, where you go to celebrate bagging a peak or after taking that epic mountain bike ride. Many breweries have regular running and biking clubs, offer yoga, host monthly speaker series, featuring local food trucks, sponsor charity events, and are providing much more to their patrons than just a pint.
Colorado State University experts: "Water is everything to a brewer", 2024
The Education Connection
There is an overall general lack of understanding and appreciation for our precious water resources and what individuals can do to protect it. We are fortunate to be a Headwaters state, with water that begins in Colorado’s high country being utilized by 19 other states. We are the first users, and thus have the greatest responsibility to ensure responsible use and to sustain the quality of our water supplies and for those downstream. Unfortunately, many of our waterways are degraded by pollution, development, fires, and other natural and human-caused impacts. The good news is that by protecting and restoring our forests and rivers, we can safeguard our clean water, sustain our economy, and maintain a thriving brewery industry. Recognizing the synergy between the mission of brewing great beer and protecting our watersheds, the value of good brews and a healthy environment, we can create a partnership between breweries and citizens that will lead to a commitment to enhancing both the natural resources and the breweries that depend on them. We can collaborate with our brewery community to elevate the conversation around watershed health.
Why Breweries?
- A 2012 National Security Assessment named climate change-induced water shortages the greatest threat to global security.
- With over 400 breweries, Colorado is home to the second most breweries in the entire country.
- At the average brewery, it takes 7 gallons of water to produce 1 gallon of beer.
- Water is the main ingredient of beer, comprising 90%-95% of every beer.
- With no end in sight for the rapid growth of breweries in Colorado, breweries must focus on water conservation through efficiency, and promote healthy watersheds to be able to utilize Colorado’s clean mountain-sourced water.
Storm Drain Art Debuts at OCC Brewing
The Fountain Creek Brewshed® Alliance is proud to celebrate the installation of a new storm drain art mural and educational plaque at OCC Brewing. Unveiled during the Birding on the Rooftop Liquid Lecture on May 19th, 2026, the mural serves as a colorful reminder that everything that enters a storm drain flows directly to local waterways without any prior treatment or filtration.
Titled Duck, Duck, Goose, the mural was created by local Colorado Springs artist (and FCWD Outreach Coordinator) Mary Wilson using acrylic paint and ink. Through its playful design and conservation message, the artwork encourages visitors to think about their connection to the Fountain Creek Watershed and the simple actions we can all take to protect it.
Installed in partnership with Stormwater Enterprise of Colorado Springs, the project highlights the powerful connection between clean water, healthy watersheds, and local breweries. Great beer starts with clean water, making water stewardship an issue that directly affects our community and local businesses.
The OCC Brewing storm drain mural also serves as an exciting preview of Downstream Designs, an upcoming initiative that will bring watershed-themed public art to communities and breweries throughout the Fountain Creek Watershed. By partnering with local artists, businesses, breweries, and community organizations, Downstream Designs aims to create engaging murals that celebrate our waterways, highlight watershed connections, and inspire stewardship through creativity. Projects like the Duck, Duck, Goose demonstrate how public art can transform everyday infrastructure into meaningful educational assets, spark community conversations for all ages, and help people see the watershed all around them.
Stop by OCC Brewing to check out the mural, learn about stormwater pollution prevention, and discover how small actions can make a big difference. After all, we all live downstream. By working together to protect our watershed, we can help promote clean water, healthy ecosystems, thriving communities, and great local beer for generations to come.
The Coalition
The Brewshed® Alliance is a nationwide effort to protect our wild waterways by recognizing the role breweries can play in water conservation. Check out our partners below:
