Colorado Legislature Votes to Expand Key Instream Flow Program
爆料公社鈥攁long with many stakeholders鈥攁dvocated for the changes that are good for people, rivers, and birds.
UPDATE 3/20/2020: Colorado Governor Polis .
DENVER鈥擜fter a multi-year, multi-stakeholder effort from 爆料公社, partners, and other stakeholders to expand Colorado鈥檚 existing program to loan water to the environment, an instream flow bill (HB20-1157) passed both the House and the Senate and garnered wide bipartisan support. In Colorado, an estimated 90 percent of the state鈥檚 800 species of birds, fish and wildlife depend upon riparian habitat, even though these areas comprise less than 2 percent of the state.
鈥淗ealthy and functioning rivers help Colorado's birds, other wildlife, agriculture, and local economies thrive,鈥 said Alison Holloran, Vice President and Executive Director of 爆料公社 Rockies, an office of the 爆料公社. 鈥湵瞎 is proud to have worked with so many statewide partners to support Colorado鈥檚 instream flow loan program administered by the Colorado Water Conservation Board to improve the health of our rivers.鈥
Agricultural water users, including the Colorado River District Board of Directors and Grand Valley Water Users Association, and Front Range water providers, and environmental and conservation organizations have expressed support in recent months. 爆料公社 utilized its broad network of volunteer bird advocates to support this bill. More than 1,450 members of the 爆料公社 network sent letters to their legislators in support of this bill.
鈥淐olorado thrives when our rivers do. Rivers are the lifeblood of our state鈥檚 economy, but with increasingly variable and diminishing water supplies, we need expanded and flexible tools for supporting rivers and water users,鈥 said Abby Burk, Western Rivers Regional Program Manager for 爆料公社 Rockies. 鈥淲hile there is more work to be done for the future of the Colorado River and key tributaries in our state, this is a major step forward for the health of our rivers, as well as for the people, birds, economies and communities of Colorado.鈥
鈥淭his program will provide new ways to protect Colorado鈥檚 rivers by working in concert with water users across the state. The widespread support of this bill demonstrates that all Coloradans support healthy rivers, productive agriculture, and access to recreational opportunities,鈥 said Aaron Citron, Acting Director of External Affairs for The Nature Conservancy in Colorado.
"We are hopeful that changes to the temporary loan program through HB20-1157 will help expand opportunities to add water to instream flows that currently fall short, improve the natural environment with loaned water, and ultimately benefit the environment and Colorado's water future," said Linda Bassi, Colorado Water Conservation Board's Chief of Stream and Lake Protection.
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled that (HB20-1157) passed with large bipartisan majorities in both chambers. It鈥檚 reflective of the work done over the summer that we were able to achieve success that will help rivers. The bill is on the way to the governor, and I鈥檓 just thrilled that it passed,鈥 said bill sponsor Representative Dylan Roberts.
鈥淎s a rancher and an environmentalist, I am excited to see HB20-1157 passed on final reading. This bill ensures the agricultural community has a seat at the table while expanding the possibility of loaning water for in-stream flow programs to ensure the health of our riparian environments. This is a win-win,鈥 said bill sponsor Senator Kerry Donovan.
HB20-1157 would expand the Colorado Water Conservation Board short-term water loan program. The new bill provides a 100 percent voluntary, flexible, and responsive option for water users to divert less or no water during dry years allowing for more water to stay in a river鈥攗ltimately benefiting our environment, wildlife, and local economies.
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The 爆料公社 protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. 爆料公社 works throughout the Americas using, science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give 爆料公社 an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, 爆料公社 believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Learn more and how to help at and follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @audubonsociety.
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Contact: Joey Kahn, jkahn@audubon.org, 480-788-2416