Colorado joins national effort to restore and protect freshwater resources

DENVER – In an important move to preserve the natural beauty and ecological health of its waters, Governor Polis has signed the State of Colorado on to the new “America the Beautiful Fresh Water Challenge.” The national initiative, unveiled during Earth Week, aims to protect and restore  8 million acres of wetlands and 100,000 miles of rivers and streams across the United States, which were left unprotected after the Supreme Court’s ruling in Sackett v. EPA. 

The announcement comes as Colorado legislators consider a vital bill to restore protections to the wetlands and streams exposed to pollution by Sackett v. EPA.

In this case, the court ruled that wetlands without a continuous surface connection with other waterways are no longer protected by the Clean Water Act. The court’s decision also rejected a longstanding legal precedent that has protected streams that provide drinking water for millions of Americans. 98% of Colorado’s population depends on drinking water that comes from headwaters, ephemeral or intermittent streams, which are no longer protected.

In response to Colorado’s participation in the White House America the Beautiful Fresh Water Challenge, Henry Stiles, Environment Colorado’s advocate released the following statement: 

“Streams are the arteries of our state’s wildlife habitat and our drinking water, but they face new threats from pollution with the roll back of federal protections. We applaud Governor Polis for adding Colorado to the America the Beautiful Freshwater Challenge and underscoring that it’s vital we do everything we can to protect all of our waterways. The legislature can do its part by passing a bill to ensure all our streams and wetlands are protected from pollution.”