Earlier this month, the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission approved a proposal to designate approximately 385 miles across 15 rivers and streams in the state as Outstanding Waters. This includes around 278 miles of tributaries in the Yampa River Basin, now set to receive increased environmental protections.

The unanimous vote on June 11 marks a significant achievement for both the community and conservationists. This designation aims to protect streams with exceptional water quality, shielding them from potential degradation due to development, mining, oil and gas extraction and other activities.

Friends of the Yampa, a local conservation group, celebrated the announcement. As part of the Colorado River Basin Outstanding Waters Coalition, the group has been a pivotal advocate for the designation. Jennifer Frithsen, environmental program manager at Friends of the Yampa, expressed her gratitude for the dedication of numerous volunteers, offering “a heartfelt thank you on behalf of the mighty Yampa River.”

Frithsen praised the efforts of Jeremy Bailey, Marla Bailey, Ben Beall, Angus Frithsen, Brad Luth, Maggie Mitchell, Mike Robertson, Jojo Vertrees and Sophie Vertrees — offering special recognition to Luth and Jeremy Bailey for their “willingness to snowmobile to remote parts of Routt County to dig out streams and collect water samples in record snowfall and challenging weather” during a previous winter season.

For the past two years, coalition advocates have engaged in extensive outreach across Colorado, garnering support from a broad spectrum of stakeholders. This included local, state and federal government entities; water rights holders; businesses; land managers; and landowners. Their collective efforts aimed to safeguard the state’s valuable waterways against future environmental threats.

The timing of this designation coincides with National Rivers Month, celebrated every June, which also marks Yampa River Month. The official designation will be finalized when the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission approves the rulemaking documents in August.

“Clean water is essential to a thriving Yampa River Basin,” emphasized Frithsen. “This designation is an extra layer of protection for these pristine streams in the face of climate uncertainty and development pressure. Our community treasures these streams for their beauty, the habitat they provide for fish and other organisms, and the clean water they provide to the Yampa River, where residents and visitors alike flock to fish, paddle, tube or just recharge.”

The Colorado River Basin Outstanding Waters Coalition, composed of organizations such as American Rivers, American Whitewater, Audubon Rockies, Colorado Trout Unlimited, Friends of the Yampa and others, proposed the Outstanding Waters designation. Their goal is to preserve clean water, support local economies and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities in the Upper and Lower Colorado, Roaring Fork, Eagle and Yampa river basins.

For more information on Friends of the Yampa and their ongoing conservation efforts, visit friendsoftheyampa.org.