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Profit Flows from Healthy Rivers |
Ben Davis | 2/1/08
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According to new information released by The Environmental Defense Fund, a national conservation organization, there is a financial incentive to changing how Colorado handles its water. Citing a direct relationship between healthy rivers and recreational spending, experts believe slight increases in water flows would generate $4.4 million in income and an additional 340 jobs statewide related to increases in rafting and fishing industries.
"Offering ranchers, farmers, and cities more freedom to leave their water in local rivers and streams benefits our quality of life, environment, and the Colorado economy," said Dan Grossman, Rocky Mountain Regional Director and Senior Attorney with The Environmental Defense Fund. "Essentially, water in the river is money in the bank."
 The analysis, released in a report titled "Healthy Rivers, Healthy Economy", demonstrates the positive impact that higher flow levels or "instream flows" in rivers and streams has on local and state economies. Colorado's outdoor recreation industry generates more than $10 billion annually while supporting more than 107,000 jobs statewide. When coupled with retail sales and services the impact increases another $7.6 billion, generating nearly $500 million in annual state tax revenue.
"You can find proof of these findings in the cash register of my store," said Jon Kahn, owner of Confluence Kayaks in Denver, CO. "Healthy rivers represent healthy bottom lines for outdoor retailers.
The financial boon from water sports such as rafting and fishing ebbs and flows depending on the health of local rivers. Flowing rivers lead to increased recreational use, higher fish populations, and long-term protections for local eco-systems.
Unfortunately, solutions capable of increasing water flows are often hamstrung by current laws and regulations on the use of private and municipal water rights. While most of the state's streams are already over-appropriated, and the state is expecting population growth of one million new residents in the next decade, opportunities to leave local water in the river are becoming even more critical.
"Ranchers and cities often find themselves handcuffed by current water laws - prohibited from leaving their water in the river," said Mitch Kerwan, an avid angler from the Western Slope. "It's in our power to offer these folks the freedom to use their water to benefit their community."
This year, advocates, sportsmen, and business-owners have teamed up with state lawmakers to propose solutions to remove this "legal bottleneck", providing incentives for cities and water-right owners the freedom to leave more of their water in their local rivers.
Dubbed the "Healthy Rivers Campaign", this legislative package includes:
- Eliminating Barriers to Protecting Rivers: Sponsored by Representative Fischer/Senator Schwartz, this measure will create protections for water-right owners interested in contracting with the Colorado Water Conservation Board to leave their water in local rivers and streams.
- Funding for State Protection of Rivers: Sponsored by Representative Curry/Senator Isgar, this measure will create a $1 million fund to assist state purchase of water rights for the sole purpose of keeping local rivers and streams with healthy water flows.
- Financial Incentives for Landowners Protecting Rivers: Sponsored by Representative Pommer/Senator Gibbs, this measure creates a tax incentive for water-right owners who leave their water in local streams and rivers.
- "Our state's rivers are literally the lifeblood of our economy and our environment," concluded Grossman. "These common-sense, incentive-based measures will help Coloradans reap the economic and environmental benefits of healthier rivers and streams."
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