Colorado River Update: Thank You for your Support on #GivingTuesday!

Hello River-Loving Friends!

It is your support that keeps us working!

Please donate online here: http://savethecolorado.org/donate/

We’re excited to send out this newsletter which describes our recent success in Colorado. 

First, as we end 2024 and move into 2025, we are happy to tell you about our BIG LEGAL VICTORY in the Gross Dam expansion fight in Boulder County, Colorado.

The judged ruled in our favor that the project did indeed violate the National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Water Act. This “win” took nearly 15 years to achieve and we’re still grappling with the fallout.

We call this a “legal victory,” because although we won in court and with the law, Denver Water has already constructed about half of the project. We are currently engaged in court-ordered discussions with Denver Water and the Army Corps about how to remedy the violation. As of press time for this letter, we don’t yet have a resolution in our discussions, nor do we know what the judge will rule if we don’t reach an agreement.

The court’s strong and decisive ruling also stated that it was ridiculous for Denver Water to start construction while the case is in court, another “win” that should have implications for other dam fights we are engaging in. Court precedents matter, and the WIN in Boulder County may have impacts across the state of Colorado and the Colorado River basin. In fact, the large-scale Colorado River Environmental Impact Statement that is launching right now may have to grapple with this judge’s ruling. The international publication, Inside Climate News, wrote a story about the implications of this win across the Southwest U.S., and we are actively working to deploy this victory in all the dam fights we are engaged in.

Stay tuned to our email list, and social media, to find out how this negotiation and court case ends, which may happen before the end of 2024.

Second, our state water court challenges in Colorado continue to move forward AND make news. We’ve filed statements of opposition against the water rights for two consequential dam projects in Colorado – one in Boulder County near the Town of Lyons, and one in Grand County near Kremmling.

The aptly named “Troublesome Creek Project” in Grand County recently made news because the Water District signed a contract deal with a local corporation to give away all of the water for private profiteering use! This contract, exposed during our water court process is still bouncing around Colorado, the repercussions of which are still unknown. We’ve requested that the State of Colorado intervene in the court process to protect the public’s interest.

Our other water court intervention near Lyons is called “Coffintop Reservoir,” named after nearby Coffintop Mountain, and we’re proud to oppose the massive dam on the South St. Vrain Creek that would loom over the Town. These water rights battles can take a year or so to work their way through the court process, but we believe it’s important to oppose the water rights early, before the dam concept gets any farther through the permitting process.

We’re excited to continue our partnership with the University of Denver Environmental Law Clinic which is representing us in these cases in state water court. Further, we’re helping to educate the next generation of river-protecting lawyers at the same time – a win-win! Stay tuned for the outcome of these court cases.

Thank you for your support on #GivingTuesday.

We are working hard to protect the rivers across Colorado.

Please donate online here: http://savethecolorado.org/donate/