AW to Host Colorado Roundtable Meeting
Posted: 09/18/2006
By: Kevin Colburn
American
Whitewater will be hosting a meeting later this fall of various Colorado groups and individuals
working on issues that affect whitewater rivers and their enjoyment. The goal of this
meeting will be to work with groups already active in Colorado to develop a common vision for
improving the public’s rights to enjoy whitewater rivers and for protecting those rivers
from environmental impacts. Together we hope to explore ways that American Whitewater can
enhance and contribute to the collective goals of the whitewater community and play a strong
role in river stewardship in Colorado in 2007 and beyond. The relationship between
recreation and conservation is very strong in Colorado, and the opportunities for paddlers to
protect rivers in the state is unparalleled.
Colorado has a large population of whitewater boaters and a significant tourism component linked
to whitewater boating. Paddlers are currently recreating on over 180 whitewater runs in the
state, and at least 7 whitewater parks. From high alpine steep creeks to big desert float
trips, Colorado offers superb rivers for paddlers of every ability level. This amazing
state has embraced whitewater recreation as part of its outdoor recreation culture, yet
unfortunately has some of the weakest laws in the nation protecting instream flows and the
public’s right to float rivers. Paddlers are thus in a unique position to advocate
for river conservation and access initiatives that will benefit the rivers, wildlife, and
citizens of Colorado.
Whitewater Paddlers as River Activists
American Whitewater was founded in 1954 by the Colorado Whitewater Association and other paddling
club from across the country. Since then, we have continued our efforts to work with our
affiliate clubs and local partners to improve the public’s rights to access and travel down
Colorado’s almost countless whitewater rivers. We have also worked to protect the quality
of those rivers and streams.
We have recognized that Colorado is at a critical point in its history – one in which
whitewater boaters and other river recreationists can create lasting environmental protections in
ways never before possible. Today, the paddling community is faced with challenges and
opportunities that are of vital importance to the future of the rivers of Colorado – and
our ability to enjoy them:
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Protecting Instream Flows: Water is a hot commodity in Colorado, which will lead to new proposals for inter-basin transfers, storage dams, and withdrawals. Many towns and citizens though now place a high value on whitewater recreation as a competing use – one that requires water to be left in the river. Instream flows with sweeping environmental benefits can be protected through leveraging the value of river recreation.
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Supporting the Right to Float: Colorado has some of the worst laws in the nation regarding the public’s right to float through private lands. Given the general statewide support for recreation, case by case collaborative efforts and/or a variety of statewide legislative and legal strategies could improve the public right to float. Accessible rivers have active stewards, advocates, and watchdogs, which ensures their long-term protection.
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Conserving Cherished Places: Paddlers cherish more than just the water under their boats, and have long worked to protect the scenery and ecological integrity of whole watersheds and riparian corridors. Protection of riparian corridors provides good water quality, scenery, wildlife habitat, and river access. River recreationists can play a unique role in advocating for protection of these resources.
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Securing Public Access: We feel that all rivers need safe, legal, and environmentally conscious public access. Often this river access is as simple as a roadside pull-off, but in other cases partnerships must be formed and funds raised to create river access on both public and private lands.
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Educating Using Whitewater Parks and Events: Paddling is a visible and exciting part of the culture of Colorado. Whitewater parks and events provide a superb and underutilized platform for teaching the public about river conservation issues.
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Ensuring Safe Water Quality: Few people drink as much river water as whitewater paddlers. As the citizens that bare the brunt of poor water quality management, we are in a unique position to advocate for high water quality standards that are strongly enforced.
In these ways, paddlers can make rivers healthier places for fish, wildlife, birds, and all the
citizens that seek recreation on Colorado’s rivers. We strongly believe that the fate of
Colorado’s rivers lies in the hands of those who directly experience them. Through
keeping rivers healthy and accessible to a full range of recreational pursuits, we can increase,
educate, and empower that group of active river stewards.
The Role of American Whitewater
American Whitewater is planning a meeting later this fall of groups interested in the relationship of whitewater recreation and the conservation movement in Colorado. We hope to discuss a predetermined range of specific issues affecting whitewater boaters and rivers in the state, and develop the beginnings of a common vision for their resolution. Through recognizing and strengthening a network of whitewater river advocates with shared goals, and through proposing a new position dedicated to reaching those goals, we hope to add significant value to the existing efforts and further contribute to the existing team of groups already working on many of these issues. In addition, we are actively exploring ways in which AW staff and volunteers can play a more active role in Colorado-based river stewardship initiatives.
While this initial roundtable meeting will be small, targeted, and invitation-only, we look forward to future events geared towards a broader range of groups and more individual paddlers.
