Navigating Water Rights and Ecological Recovery Under New Colorado Legislation
Water publication highlights stream restoration.
The Water Report—a monthly publication covering key water issues throughout the West—published an article co-written by Audubon's Abby Burk and Jacquelyn Corday of Corday Natural Resources Consulting.
They write:
Stream restoration in Colorado is essential for improving degraded water quality and wildlife habitats, as
well as building resilience to natural disasters such as floods, droughts, and wildfires. However, these efforts
can face tension within Colorado’s complex water rights system. The state’s strict “prior appropriation”
doctrine—which grants water rights based on seniority—often raises questions about the effects of
restoration efforts, for example, will the restoration cause any changes to downstream water rights?
Read more here.