PRESS RELEASE: Save The Colorado Begins Campaign for Public to Support the Largest Environmental Flow Right in Colorado History

For Immediate Release
May 27, 2025
Contact: Gary Wockner, Save The Colorado, 970-218-8310

Colorado River: Today, Save The Colorado* began a campaign so the public can contact the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) in support of the largest environmental flow right in the state’s history. The Colorado River District, which serves the western area of Colorado, is trying to create an environmental flow right of nearly one million acre feet that continues to flow west, downstream on the Colorado River, instead of potentially being diverted east over the continental divide to the sprawling Denver megalopolis.

The water right is currently owned by Xcel Energy and diverted through its Shoshone Hydropower Plant near Glenwood Springs, CO.  As the hydropower plant ages and is increasingly offline — and maybe someday decommissioned — the Colorado River District is trying to permanently keep the water flowing West.  In an article in The Colorado Sun (click here to read it)  last week, the District’s director, Andy Mueller, stated, “The water right is important to keeping the Colorado River alive. This is the right that will save this river from now into eternity.” 

Depending on the CWCB’s decision process, the environmental water right could be over a million acre feet, but the Colorado Front Range cities are already aggressively contesting the amount of water as they eye it for diversion to the Front Range.

“These water rights will maintain and potentially enhance environmental flows that protect fish and riparian areas, will support recreational opportunities including fishing and boating, and will help protect against a lower basin ‘compact call’ that could force curtailment in Colorado,” said Gary Wockner of Save The Colorado. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to keep the Colorado River flowing downstream to the West.”

In fact, just yesterday, prominent Colorado River scientists posted an analysis (click here to read it) saying that the “ten-year flows” in the river are projected to fall below the “tripwire” that could trigger massive interstate litigation and a first-in-history “compact call” on the Colorado River.

Save The Colorado has created an Action Email for the public that is sent to Viola Bralish who is coordinating the Colorado Water Conservation Board’s decision process. The Action Email webpage is posted here (click to send email): https://savethecolorado.org/send-email-to-the-cwcb/  The CWCB has opened a 120-day comment period during which they consider the District’s proposal.

“If you want to help make sure the Colorado River flows West forever, instead of being pumped uphill across the continental divide to the Denver megalopolis, now is the time to speak out,” said Wockner. “We will engage in the process as it moves forward, and we will speak on behalf of the River’s interest.”

* (Save The Colorado is a program of Save The World’s Rivers.)

***end***