“The future of late summer flows in the Colorado River is at risk, and AW needs paddlers’ help to show how important these flows are to paddlers,” says AW’s Nathan Fey. “All people have to do is share theirr experiences on the river.”
American Whitewater is working with the City of Glenwood Springs to secure water rights for river recreation on the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon. These Recreational In-Channel Diversion rights (“RICD”), allowed by State Statute from April to September, will ensure flows that support rafting, kayaking, and paddle boarding are protected from future upstream diversions.
American Whitewater intervened in a Water Court Case to support the City’s water rights application, after numerous front range water agencies opposed the filing for fear that the RICD would limit their ability to take more out of the Colorado River to use in Fort Collins, Denver, Aurora, and Colorado Springs.
“The Colorado River supports the health and economy of local communities in Vail and Glenwood Springs today, and what little water that is left in the river should not be pumped to East Slope Cities in the future,” says Fey. “Now, these same Front Range entities are questioning whether paddlers even use the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon after Labor Day. We need people’s help.”
Fey is asking paddlers to write a letter to Jeff Hecksel, City Manager of Glenwood Springs, and let the city know that they have paddled Glenwood Canyon in September, and will continue to do so in the future. The letters will help AW and the City of Glenwood prove that paddlers from around the State enjoy late summer flows from Shoshone to Two Rivers Park, and prevent the Front Range from taking away an entire month of the section’s paddling season
He advises that the letters include the following points, specific to September use on the Colorado River:
– How often do you paddle Glenwood Canyon in September?
– Why do you choose the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs, rather than a different destination in September?
– How many people do you paddle with?
– Do you see other paddlers enjoying September flows too?
– Do you plan to paddle the river in the future? Will you continue to paddle in September?
Send them to:
City of Glenwood Springs
Attn: Jeff Hecksel, City Manager
101 West 8th Street
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
970-384-6401
jeff.hecksel@cogs.us
