PRESS RELEASE: Denver Water Conservation Pledge Meaningless Without Less Diversion

August 25, 2022

For Immediate Release
Contact: Gary Wockner, Save The Colorado, 970-218-8310

Denver Water Conservation Pledge Meaningless Without Less Diversion

Denver: Yesterday, Denver Water announced that it was escalating its water conservation programs in its service area to address the historic drought in the Colorado River system. Denver Water’s press release is here.

However, Denver Water made no commitment to diverting less water out of the Colorado River, which is the only action that will address the drought and shortage on the Colorado River.

“Unless Denver Water pledges to divert less water, nothing changes,” said Gary Wockner of Save The Colorado. “The only action that will put more water in the river is to divert less water out of the river.”

At the same time that Denver Water pledged more conservation, it is still right now constructing a massive expansion of Gross Dam and Reservoir in Boulder County, CO, designed to divert a new and additional 15,000 acre feet of water per year out of the Upper Colorado River.

“Conservation is meaningless if diversions stay the same or increase,” said Wockner. “Denver Water needs to stop the construction of Gross Dam and focus on conservation measures that result in less diversion of Colorado River water.”

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