9359

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9359
• Author: Trout Unlimited.
• Title: A Dry Legacy
• USFW Year: 2002.
• USFW - Doc Type: The Challenge for Colorado's Rivers.
• Copyright Material: YES

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The Value of Healthy Rivers

While no one likes to see a dry s~eam, the impacts
of dry rivers go far beyond appearances. Healthy
streams are the arteries of healthy ecosystems, and the
damaging effects of low streamflows do not stop at the.
river's edge. They affect the entire watershed - and .
the economies of communities along the river.

. Fisheries. Fish need water 24 hours a day, every
day, Without sufficient flows for any part of their
life cycle - from spawning to rearing to overwintering
- fish populations cannot sustain themselves, The
fact is, fisheries
are in jeopardy,

A study of 13 Colorado rivers by Elizabeth M. Strange,
Ph.D., found that the streamflow conditions p.ecessary
for the long-term health of Colorado's river ecosystems
and the fisheries they support are highly degraded
or absent.

. Wildlife, The aquatic and riparian habitats pro-
vided by healthy waterways support a large portion of
Colorado's biological communities. While only 5% of
the area in the Rocky Mountain states is occupied by
rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, more than 65% of
the region's species rely on this limited habitat resource
for at least some portion of their life cycle.

. Recreational EconomY,Healthy streams with
adequate flows are essentialtoColorado's~ater-based
recreation industries. Each year, fishing generates
more than $1.3 billion in economic activity, and river
rafting contributes an estimated $122 million to the
state's economy. Fishing alone supports more than
17,800 Colorado jobs. Boat chute courses, such as the
one below in Golden, contribute to local economies.

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