Navigating Water Rights and Ecological Recovery Under New Colorado Legislation

Stream restoration in Colorado is essential for improving degraded water quality and wildlife habitats, as
well as building resilience to natural disasters such as floods, droughts, and wildfires. However, these efforts
can face tension within Colorado’s complex water rights system. The state’s strict “prior appropriation”
doctrine—which grants water rights based on seniority—often raises questions about the effects of
restoration efforts, for example, will the restoration cause any changes to downstream water rights?