Soapbox: Conservation should be focus of state water plan

I have chosen to make Colorado my home, in part because its citizens have access to the world-class public land hunting and fishing that I thrive on.

It’s hard to live in Colorado and not have a deeply rooted connection with water. Last fall I was pulling Wigeons, Teals and Wood ducks out of a pond in Eastern Colorado. This winter I found myself taking cutbow and rainbow trout out of an eight inch hole in the ice of a high mountain reservoir. This spring has already seen the insect resurgence begin and my time on the streams and rivers in the state will begin to increase exponentially.

Of course all these things wouldn’t be possible without the clean water needed not just for the activities themselves, but to support the species and habitats that provide these experiences.

I am not alone. Just last year, 2.7 million people — Coloradans and visitors alike — spent $5.1 billion in our state to hunt, fish, and view wildlife. Water is the indispensable resource driving this outdoor recreation economy. As we’ve been seeing, some Westerners aren’t gifted with such a wealth of water resources as Coloradans.

Gov. John Hickenlooper is currently drafting the state’s first-ever water plan. Once complete, this plan will lay out what Colorado must do to meet the water demands of a growing population amidst an ongoing threat of drought. This is an important opportunity to chart a positive course for future water use that also protects our sporting heritage for generations to come.

To safeguard hunting, fishing, and their economic benefits to Colorado, Gov. Hickenlooper must ensure that water for fish and wildlife is protected in the state water plan. For example, the plan must prioritize keeping Colorado’s rivers healthy and flowing — a goal that 89 percent of Colorado sportsmen agree is important.

The plan must increase the efficiency of water use and conservation, and modernize agricultural water sharing practices, so we can keep farmers productive and improve stream flows at the same time. If we focus on these options, we can avoid large new diversions of water from the West Slope to the Front Range that jeopardize fish populations.

Sportsmen across the state recognize the importance of including these initiatives in the state water plan. Recently, I joined with the Bull Moose Sportsmen’s Alliance, Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Colorado Wildlife Federation, and Colorado Trout Unlimited on a letter to Gov. Hickenlooper that expressed the appreciation of sportsmen for initially drafting a Colorado Water Plan that includes cooperative ways to protect healthy rivers, help growing urban areas meet their water needs, and sustain working landscapes for agricultural production. While the draft plan is a good start, we believe the final plan needs to include real, actionable steps to achieve these essential goals.

Keeping our rivers healthy, clean, and flowing will continue to make Colorado a great place to live and draw people to enjoy our wonderful wildlife and outdoor lifestyle. The state water plan needs to reflect those values and include specific measures to support the conservation of Colorado’s resources most valued by our sportsmen. Our livelihood depends on it.

Nick Payne is the Colorado field representative for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, a coalition of organizations and grassroots partners working together to preserve the traditions of hunting and fishing. Nick can be reached at npayne(at)trcp.org.