Water
Since 2000, Colorado has faced its worst drought in over 1,200 years, with climate change driving hotter, drier conditions. Colorado’s water supply—essential for drinking, agriculture, wildlife and recreation—is shrinking and our population will only continue to grow. Meanwhile, toxins are polluting our water, posing serious health risks.
In 2024, after Trump’s Supreme Court revoked long-standing clean water protections, Colorado led the nation by passing laws to safeguard wetlands and streams, covering over 60 percent of the state’s waters. We also advanced legislation to conserve water, improve mining permits and remove toxic pollutants. But there’s more work to do.
Conservation Colorado is working to protect our rivers, streams and lakes from the impacts of climate change, drought and pollution. Together, we can ensure a healthy future for Colorado’s water.
Protect our water supply from drought
The Colorado River is our state’s most important river, providing 40 percent of the water for drinking and agriculture across the region. Since 2000, the river’s flows have decreased by 20 percent, and experts predict it will decrease by another 20–30 percent by 2050. Conservation Colorado drives policy action to address the climate crisis, water overuse and severe drought to restore our rivers and support the communities that depend on them. To learn more about drought, read Conservation Colorado’s informational booklet, Drought in Colorado: Explaining the Impacts, Challenges and Path Forward.
Ensure clean and safe drinking water
Access to affordable, clean drinking water is a fundamental right. Yet, many communities in our state — especially disproportionately impacted communities, who are diverse communities that face higher environmental and health burdens due to pollution and climate change — are exposed to water contaminated with arsenic, lead, PFAS (forever chemicals) and other toxic pollutants, which can cause cancer, reproductive issues and other serious health problems. Conservation Colorado fights to hold polluters accountable and secure, stronger water protections because everyone deserves access to clean water.
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