This week, a state commission advanced efforts to protect some of Colorado’s most pristine creeks and rivers in the Arkansas and Rio Grande river basins.

If segments of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and wilderness areas are designated by the state as "Outstanding Waters" under the Clean Water Act, current high-quality levels could be preserved while maintaining existing water rights and uses.

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Andrew Todd, a lifelong high-country angler in Westcliffe and executive director of the nonprofit Running Rivers, believes the areas represent the “best of the best” of Colorado’s waterways in both ecological and recreational value.

"We think it makes sense to preserve that water quality in those areas for generations to come, so my grandkids can go up there and fish and recreate," Todd explained.

Despite increasing threats to watersheds posed by hotter temperatures and longer droughts, the Trump administration has rolled back key sections of the Clean Water Act. President Donald Trump campaigned on removing regulations seen as barriers to developing the nation's natural resources, notably to drill for oil and gas, to boost the economy and achieve energy dominance. The U.S. Supreme Court has limited the scope and authority of the Clean Water Act, effectively turning the responsibilities over to states.

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Carrie Sandstedt, senior U.S. conservation officer for the Pew Charitable Trusts, said areas with Outstanding Waters designations provide world-class outdoor recreation opportunities, including fishing, rafting, swimming, hiking and more. She noted the activities add more than $17 billion to Colorado’s economy each year.

"In 2022 alone, anglers spent more than $2 billion fishing in Colorado. And that supported tens of thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in salaries and wages," Sandstedt reported.

A coalition of landowners, community members, recreation and conservation groups is urging the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission to approve the designation at its June meeting. Sandstedt noted while Outstanding Waters begin in remote areas, they are critical for the state’s downstream farms and ranches, and provide drinking water for towns and cities.

"Everybody wants and deserves clean water. And that's something that we can all agree on: that clean water is important for healthy people, healthy communities, and healthy wildlife," Sandstedt asserted.