Workshop Update: A step forward for the Crystal River

A historic June 2026 agreement preserves our home river’s free-flowing character, agricultural heritage, and unique ecology 

On June 8, 2026, a group of Colorado governments and water districts signed a landmark agreement to protect the Crystal River from dams and out-of-basin water diversions. The milestone achieves one of three potential long-term preservation measures identified by partners working to protect one of the last remaining free-flowing rivers in the West. 

Under the agreement, the Colorado River Water Conservation District, Gunnison County, Pitkin County, Town of Marble, and West Divide Water Conservancy District committed 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. This recognizes the Crystal as a rare treasure among Western river systems, an aquatic environment whose flows are dictated by nature alone.  

Wilderness Workshop played a key role in bringing partners together and advocating for this agreement as a step toward an ultimate goal of full Wild and Scenic designation for 39 miles of the river from its headwaters in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness to its confluence with the Roaring Fork River in Carbondale. Work and collaboration devoted to securing this unique and valuable designation continues. 

The Crystal River provides vital benefits to local communities by providing drinking water and supporting agriculture, recreation, and tourism. Its unique ecology stems from a natural flood regime that supports healthy riparian communities and fish and wildlife habitat, including high spring flow conditions that create sediment scour and floodplain inundation cycles that benefit aquatic life and vegetation along the riverbanks. These and other recreational and historical values are beloved by local communities and continue to unite diverse stakeholders up and down the river corridor. 

Wilderness Workshop joins its partners in celebrating this milestone for the river

“This landmark agreement is a big deal for one of the last free-flowing rivers in Colorado,” said Michael Gorman from Wilderness Workshop. “We’re thrilled that these parties have committed to opposing dams and out-of-basin diversions, and we’re grateful for the community process which led to getting this important commitment on the page. The community has been working for decades to protect the river from the possibility of big water developments. This IGA is a real investment in the river’s health. We are excited to continue working with the stakeholder group on durable solutions for the watershed, including instream flows and a Wild and Scenic designation.” 

“The River District is proud to have been a partner in this effort,” said Zane Kessler, Director of Government Relations for the Colorado River District and Steering Committee co-chair. “This agreement demonstrates that conservation and protection of working landscapes, local agriculture, recreation, and existing water rights are not mutually exclusive. By working together, the parties were able to develop a balanced framework that serves to protect the Crystal River from trans basin diversions and new mainstem dams while preserving local control and respecting existing water uses.” 

“The Crystal River means many things to many people,” said Elizabeth Smith, Gunnison County Commissioner and Steering Committee co-chair. “It supports agriculture and working lands, provides extraordinary recreational opportunities, sustains wildlife habitat, and is vital to the character of the communities connected to it. I’m deeply appreciative of the diligence and collaboration shown by so many partners over many years to develop this agreement and move it forward. Protecting a river as special as the Crystal requires people to stay at the table for hard conversations and thoughtfully consider a wide range of tools that can work together to preserve the river for future generations.” 

“This agreement comes after years of cooperation between local governments and stakeholders and it’s a meaningful step for protection of the Crystal River. It shows progress toward stronger protections like Wild and Scenic, which the County continues working on,” said Francie Jacober, Pitkin County Commissioner and Steering Committee Co-chair. 

“The Town of Marble is pleased to be participating in the process that will protect the Crystal River into the future,” said Ron Leach, Town of Marble Administrator and Steering Committee co-chair. “The more the process, the better the product.”