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Black Canyon’s Future Preserved
WRA leads negotiations in settlement over water rights
 An agreement reached on June 6, 2008, between the United States, conservationists, water users, the State of Colorado, and others will protect water rights for the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. After more than 30 years, it resolves one of Colorado’s most contentious water rights battles.The settlement helps restore the ecological balance in the river system, creating a healthier environment for a world class trout fishery, maintaining the river channel, and greatly improving the aesthetics of a flowing river for hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world each year.
WRA has devoted many resources to protecting the Black Canyon case-- the largest and one of the most important water cases in Colorado’s history. WRA has played a pivotal role in the nine months of intense negotiations leading to the proposed settlement. “It took lots of effort, but the negotiation resulted in a win-win—a water right that protects the Park and accommodates other water uses,” said Bart Miller, WRA’s attorney on the case.
WRA is thrilled that our work has resulted in a resolution that satisfies competing interests and protects this cherished park for future generations.
Read more about the Black Canyon settlement…
Photo courtesy of National Parks Service.
Defending the Roan from Drilling
 Against the wishes of many Colorado citizens, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, and the Congressional delegation, on June 9th, 2008 the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposed to issue oil and gas leases on all 55,000 acres of undeveloped public lands on the Roan. The BLM’s decision to auction off the Roan all at once, rather than in phases as proposed by Governor Ritter and many conservation groups, will transform the Roan Plateau into an energy sacrifice zone.
The majestic Roan Plateau, located miles northwest of Rifle, CO, is not only a place of great beauty, but also vitally supports diverse wildlife and recreational opportunities. The six year debate over whether and how to drill on the Roan has generated over 75,000 official public comments, most of which support stricter environmental safeguards than those currently outlined by the BLM.
WRA represents a broad coalition of conservation and wildlife groups ready to defend the Roan Plateau from inappropriate leasing and development, and is prepared to use every available policy and legal option available to ensure that the Roan’s wildlife and scenery are passed to future generations as an intact legacy.
Read more about WRA’s work to protect the Roan Plateau.
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
A Clean Electric Energy Strategy for Arizona
Meeting Increasing Electricity Demand with A Clean Energy Portfolio
Much of Arizona’s electricity is generated at power plants burning coal or natural gas. The current energy portfolio is not only subject to volatile and potentially increasing costs, it also imposes enormous environmental impacts.
The clean energy strategy described in this report can reliably meet Arizona’s growing electricity demands, with very limited emissions of greenhouse gases and at reasonable cost. No new pulverized coal power plants will be needed.
Download the report
Energy Corridors to Link up New Coal Plants in the West
Download a new map that shows the relationship of proposed energy transmission corridors and new coal plants in the western U.S. high resolution map or low resolution map
To meet future energy demands, utilities and federal agencies are now proposing to overhaul the western power grid. The upcoming years will be incredibly important as this major transmission build-out is planned and implemented in the region. WRA has responded by developing a new energy transmission program to influence these planning processes and achieve a sustainable energy policy for the West that, unlike the proposed energy corridors, focuses new transmission on linking up renewable energy resources. Click here (21MB) to download WRA’s transmission planning guide.
Recent Developments
- WRA successfully defends 2,000 acres of roadless lands southwest of Carbondale from natural gas drilling. Representing a coalition of eight conservation groups, WRA appealed the validity of drilling leases issued in the White River, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests. The victory protects an important wild area in Colorado and habitat for the endangered Canada lynx. Read more about this victory...
- The Environmental Center of the Rockies is part of a cell phone tour as the start of a pilot program being promoted by a partnership of the city of Boulder’s Water Conservation Office and the Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau. By dialing (703) 342-0606 on their cell phones, listeners will learn about the various investments made in green building. These measures include solar electricity, xeriscape, strategies for dealing with storm runoff, efficient windows and heating and cooling systems, and the use of products made from recycled materials. For more information, read the press release.
- Nevada Environment Commission to Consider Climate Petition: Proposed Cap on CO2 Pollution Would Suspend Permitting for New Coal-fired Power Plants. Read the Press Release.
- Westerners testify before congress on the impacts of commercial leasing of federal oil shale resources in western Colorado. Read the press release , or read the letter to the Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee.
- Major Utah Victory for Air Quality Protection. To read more, click here.
- Two reports ask tough questions about Southern Nevada Water Authority's (SNWA) planned pipeline and provide sound alternatives to the costly project. To read WRA’s report, click here (4.6 Mb). To read PLAN’s report, click here (10 Mb).
- Read our most recent newsletter (Spring 2008): Western Views Newsletter, Vol. 18 (669 KB)
- Read our most recent Annual Report: Annual Report (1 Mb)
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Upcoming Events
July 2- July 30
Brown Bag Lunch Summer Series
Natural Resources Law Center at the University of Colorado Law School, Room 202, 12:00pm.
July 2
Stacy Tellinghuisen, Western Resource Advocates
Water and energy in Colorado’s Arkansas River Basin
July 9
Bart Miller, Western Resource Advocates
Black Canyon and Endangered Fish on the Gunnison River
July 16*
Drew Peternell, Trout Unlimited
Instream flows in Colorado or recently-passed HB 1141
July 23*
Mike Cohen, Pacific Institute
Colorado River Shortage Guidelines and the Salton Sea
July 30
Debbie Lewis, Western Resource Advocates
Oil and gas or Forest Service travel management rules
*Room 321.
Please check back regularly for additions to our events schedule, or sign up
for our e-newsletter to get updates delivered to your inbox.
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