By Angela Simental
Conservation Colorado announced last week that 1,774 Coloradans signed a petition urging the Colorado River Drought Task Force to take action addressing drought. Coloradans are clear in what they want from the Task Force: identify strong legislative recommendations to address the threats of drought impacting Coloradans and the natural environment.
“Thousands of Coloradans have spoken and said that they demand strong action making Colorado more resilient to the threats of drought,” said Josh Kuhn, Conservation Colorado’s Water Campaign Manager. “The time to act is now. The Colorado River Drought Task Force needs to provide legislative recommendations ensuring we have healthy rivers and a secure water supply for generations to come.”
Historic drought conditions since the year 2000 threaten Colorado’s ability to satisfy water users, environmental needs and interstate obligations. If action is not taken to protect and preserve Colorado’s water, Colorado’s $47 billion agriculture industry and its nearly $19 billion river recreation industry will be at risk. Both industries employ hundreds of thousands of hardworking Coloradans across all four corners of the state.
This petition serves as a stark reminder of the urgency and gravity of the situation, imploring the Colorado River Drought Task Force to make bold legislative recommendations. The future of Colorado’s natural resources, communities and overall quality of life depends on the actions taken today.
To address this pressing issue, Colorado state Sens. Dylan Roberts (D-Frisco) and Perry Will (R-Delta) and state Reps. Julie McCluskie (D-Dillon) and Marc Catlin (R-Montrose) passed SB23-295 creating the Colorado River Drought Task Force. The Task Force is composed of 19 members who represent a plethora of different perspectives and expertise in water management. They are set to provide final legislative recommendations on Dec. 15, 2023.
“Climate change is real and impacting Coloradans’ lives,” said Josh Kuhn, Conservation Colorado’s Water Campaign Manager. “The Colorado River is vital to the health of our economy and environment and is at serious risk from climate change. The task force must provide meaningful recommendations for legislation in 2024 that will protect our water for generations to come.”
Angela Simental is Vice President of Marketing & Communications for Conservation Colorado.