HECHO Statement on the Legislation To Restore Protections to Colorado’s Endangered Wetlands and Waters

Members of the Protect Colorado Waters Coalition, including HECHO, have voiced their strong support for legislation introduced by Speaker of the House Representative Julie McCluskie (D-Dillon), State Senator Dylan Roberts (D-Frisco), and Representative Karen McCormick (D-Longmont) that would restore protections to Colorado’s endangered wetlands and waters after the U.S. Supreme Court decision last year to impose the biggest rollback of the Clean Water Act since its inception in 1972, essentially eliminating protections for certain wetlands and other critically essential waters.

“The Supreme Court's ruling was a massive setback to the Environmental Protection Agency’s power to curb water pollution, with significant repercussions on communities, ecosystems, the economy, and recreational activities across the nation. In Colorado, water contamination is primarily found in counties with high Latino populations. We applaud Coloradans for taking action to safeguard our waters. The legislation by Speaker McCluskie, Sen. Roberts and Rep. McCormick is a step in the right direction to restore critical protections for wetlands and waters and hold developers, mining, and other industries accountable and limit the impact of these activities in waterways and streams,” said Camilla Simon, executive director of Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO).