This week AW staff had a great opportunity to spend some time with students at Colorado College, who are focusing the next 10 weeks on Western water issues. They’re digging into topics ranging from water savings and water banking, to tribal rights, to perceived conflicts between recreation and ecosystem needs, and even to water quality.
Together, we explored the policy and regulatory options that allow us to keep water in our rivers – Wild & Scenic, Colorado's Instream Flow Program, Alternatives to W&S, special designations, and how recreational needs are defined.
We also talked about this weeks FIBArk event and how American Whitewater got its start here at the races in 1954. Before the environmental movement really started, river lovers recognized that while enjoying rivers is great fun, protecting and restoring our recreational values needed a national movement. Over 60 years later, we’re still protecting rivers that provide so much for our families and communities.
After our session, the students enjoyed a raft trip down the recently designated Brown's Canyon National Monument.
These young folks are highly engaged, and exploring some of the most critical and contentious issues in Western water today; it was an pleasure to work with them, and it left us feeling optimistic for the future!