In Southwest Colorado, water is the backbone of our landscapes and livelihoods. Our rivers define our way of life and are critical to our future.
Working in the fly fishing industry for almost 10 years now, water is our business. We have some of the best fly fishing in Colorado and we need cold, clean and healthy water to sustain this. The San Juan Angler is behind Proposition DD.
It will help secure future habitat of our fisheries and will benefit many other industries along the way. It is with the interests of anglers in mind that I support DD as an important step towards the full implementation of the Colorado Water Plan.
Allocating more funds at the state level would support local conservation projects like the Redburn Ranch Fish Passage Project, the Mancos River Resilience Project and the Telluride Valley Floor restoration.
We are only one season removed from 2018, when sediment run-off from raging fires suffocated most of the trout population in our stretch of the Animas River. We are working to remediate local habitat, though the increased frequency of extreme weather and drought conditions complicate the picture.
We need to find innovative ways to protect and conserve our water. That’s what the Water Plan is here to do, though it needs funding to achieve its goals.
Prop DD is a critical investment in our future. I encourage everyone to vote Yes on DD and do your part to help protect fish habitat.
Cole Glenn
Durango
