Upper Colorado Wild and Scenic
Protecting the Values of the Upper Colorado River
Since its formation in 2007, Northern Water has been an active member of the Upper Colorado River Wild & Scenic Alternative Management Plan Stakeholder Group. This diverse coalition—made up of representatives from state agencies, local governments, environmental organizations, recreational groups, landowners and water providers—developed a stakeholder-led alternative to a potential federal Wild and Scenic River designation for the Upper Colorado River.
The plan focuses on protecting the river’s Outstandingly Remarkable Values (ORVs)—including fishing and recreational float boating—along the stretch from the top of Gore Canyon near Kremmling to one mile east of No Name Creek in Glenwood Springs. Accepted by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, the plan strikes a balance between preserving the river’s unique values and maintaining operational flexibility for water users.
After completing a provisional plan in 2012, the stakeholder group launched a five-year provisional period in 2015. An amended and restated plan was finalized in June 2020. As part of its implementation, the group is committed to ongoing data collection and evaluation to monitor the health and sustainability of the ORVs. Monitoring protocols and evaluation criteria are detailed in the stakeholder plan, and the group continues to respond adaptively to changing river conditions within the framework of operational flexibility.
Northern Water supports the stakeholder group by providing technical expertise and actively seeking opportunities to coordinate operations on the Upper Colorado River in ways that uphold and enhance the river’s ORVs.