Water is Colorado’s most precious resource – allowing our wildlife, residents, agriculture and industry to thrive.
But Colorado's water resources are already stretched too thin and the state’s population is expected to double by 2050.
If we don't act now to protect them, our remarkable rivers and the bald eagles, mule deer, red foxes, cottontails, rainbow trout, blue herons and other wildlife that depend on them will be in peril.
Please urge the Colorado State Water Conservation Board to prioritize the health of Colorado’s rivers and wildlife as they draft the state’s first-ever water plan.
Dear Director Eklund:
Gov. Hickenlooper has said that "every discussion about water should begin with conservation," and I could not agree more. Water is our most precious natural resource and we must take steps now to protect and preserve it in a way that will benefit Colorado's rivers, wildlife, recreation, agriculture, businesses and residents.
As you oversee the creation of a plan to meet our future water needs, I urge you to prioritize the following goals:
1. Keep Colorado’s rivers healthy and flowing. Colorado's rivers are an integral part of our unique heritage and way of life. Rivers support our wildlife, agriculture, and a multi-billion dollar tourism industry. Protecting and restoring our rivers must be a top priority.
2. Increase and prioritize efficiency and conservation. Finding ways to reduce our water usage is crucial to our ability to meet our growing water needs. State studies have shown that water providers will need to reduce current water use by 35% by 2050 in order to meet our future demands. Expand conservation incentives, increase indoor and outdoor efficiency and support recycling programs.
3. Modernize agricultural and water sharing practices. The state should support voluntary, compensated, and flexible water-sharing agreements between agricultural producers and growing communities while respecting their water rights, as well as incentives to improve agricultural infrastructure that benefits operations and rivers.
4. Avoid new, large, trans-mountain water diversion projects. Trans-mountain diversion projects that drain water from West Slope rivers to supply growing Front Range demands are controversial, costly and damaging. Prioritize conservation and reuse so we can make every drop count and avoid the need for these projects.
Thank you for helping to keep these four goals at the forefront of Colorado's water plan drafting process.
[Your comments here]
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
