May 27, 2026
Five Colorado governments, including Pitkin County, and water entities have officially entered into a landmark intergovernmental agreement to protect the Crystal River from mainstem dams and out-of-basin water diversions.
The official commitment of all five entities comes after Pitkin County gave its signature April 22.
The agreement comes at the recommendation of the Crystal River Wild and Scenic and Other Alternatives Steering Committee from March 2024, suggested as one of three potential long-term preservation measures, according to a press release. Along with Pitkin County, the Colorado River Water Conservation District, Gunnison County, town of Marble and West Divide Water Conservancy District formalized their shared commitment to oppose any new on-channel reservoirs on the mainstem of the Crystal River and any trans-basin diversions that would export water out of the watershed.