COMMITTEE FOR A HEALTHY RIO GRANDE
The Committee for a Healthy Rio Grande is a gathering of anglers, boaters, and other citizens concerned with better water management of the Rio Grande River in Southwest Colorado.
photo courtesy of Terry Taddeucci
The
Story
Unfulfilled Promises
From 2012 to 2020 The SLV Irrigation District received $30 million in Colorado State funding to rehabilitate and repurpose their 100-year-old Rio Grande Reservoir dam. In exchange for that funding commitments were made to operate the dam as a “multi-purpose” facility with “not just minimum flows, but optimum flows” ushering in “a new era in water management.” After more than 12 years, however, these remain empty promises. Instead, dam operators continue to shut off all water to the river from November to April. This leaves much of the upper Rio Grande riverbed dry and lifeless for five months – year after year.
The Committee for a Healthy Rio Grande recognizes the importance of a Healthy Rio Grande to the many residents and visitors who enjoy boating and fishing on the river, as well as its importance to local economies. Every resident in the upper Rio Grande as well as many others throughout the San Luis Valley, benefit either directly or indirectly from recreation on the river. Those residents and visitors, as well as every Colorado taxpayer, deserves to know that promises made are promises kept.
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​Despite the expenditure of $30 million of public funds, promises remain largely unmet today. Our committee exists to advocate for promises to be kept, resulting in healthier year-round flows in the Rio Grande.