Colorado Sets National Example by Restoring Wetlands Protections

DENVER - The Colorado General Assembly has demonstrated national leadership by being the first state in the nation to pass legislation restoring protections for tens of thousands of acres of wetlands and streams that were put at risk after a Supreme Court ruling removed Clean Water Act protections for them nationwide. Lawmakers have passed HB 1379and sent it to Gov. Jared Polis for his signature.

The following is a comment by Jon Devine, Senior Attorney and Director of Freshwater Ecosystems at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council.)

"Coloradans should be proud that their state leaders recognized the value of the state's water resources and adopted a thoughtful program that protects them from unregulated pollution and destruction. But this bill was only needed because the Supreme Court recklessly stripped federal Clean Water Act protections from countless wetlands, streams, and other waters nationwide. We need other states' decision-makers and, ultimately, the U.S. Congress, to follow Colorado's example and restore these safeguards for communities across the country."

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd)