As a Colorado resident who cares about the health of our wetlands, streams, and rivers for our communities and environment, I request the Colorado General Assembly support protections for these water bodies. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Sackett v. EPA (2023), was the most significant rollback of the Clean Water Act since its inception more than 50 years ago. It is critical that state lawmakers restore sufficient protections for our state's streams and wetlands. 

To protect the health of Colorado's rivers, streams, and wetlands, the legislature must pass a comprehensive bill this session. Passage of legislation restoring protections previously covered under federal law includes the following: 

• Full protections for all of Colorado's critical water bodies;

• Accountability and transparency for all involved;

• Regulatory certainty to allow for long-term planning and careful but efficient permitting;

• Clear mechanisms for strong enforcement to protect Colorado's wetlands and streams.  

Legislation that includes these aspects ensures Colorado's resilience to climate change by maintaining healthy and functional ecological services, but also embodies the principles of environmental justice, ensuring all Coloradans have equal access to clean water and a healthy environment. These natural systems play a pivotal role in purifying our water, directly impacting the quality of life for communities across our state. A clean water supply begins in the forests where wetlands' ability to filter pollutants benefits the natural environment and safeguards residents' health downstream. 

All Coloradans and our environment depend on clean, flowing, healthy rivers. I strongly urge you to pass legislation this year that provides protections for Colorado's water bodies. This is more than an environmental issue; it is a matter of social justice, economic stability, and public health.