New report shows state's streams and wetlands endangered

WASHINGTON – Feb. 9, 2010 – A new report highlights threats to Colorado's waters and wetlands under regulatory guidance resulting from two Supreme Court cases. Compiled by the National Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited and Trout Unlimited, the report identifies five cases where the loss of Clean Water Act (CWA) protections has put Colorado waters at risk for pollution, unrestricted drainage and destruction.

"Without these protections, Colorado's limited and precious aquatic resources are at further risk," said Dennis Buechler, director emeritus of the Colorado Wildlife Federation and author of the report. "In some instances where protections have been removed completely, the state of law has caused unnecessary confusion."

An example of this confusion is the case of Hidden Lake, an 88-acre lake in Westminster, Colo., which has had its Clean Water Act protections removed because it supposedly does not have a surface connection to waters covered by the CWA. The lake boasts an excellent small-mouth bass fishery and is used by local residents for recreation such as swimming and boating. After the City of Westminster protested, protections were restored. But protections were not in place for more than half a decade.

"There are examples of threatened waters and wetlands all over the state," said Jim Murphy of the National Wildlife Federation. "Colorado streams and wetlands provide habitat and benefits to more than 75 percent of the state's wildlife and waterfowl."

David Nickum, executive director of Colorado Trout Unlimited, said, "Sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts spend billions of dollars in Colorado to hunt and fish for species that depend on these waters and wetlands that are threatened."

Neil Shader, DU
nshader@ducks.org
202.347.1530

Aileo Weinmann, NWF
weinmanna@nwf.org