Colorado River v. State of Colorado

In a First-in-the-USA Federal Lawsuit, River Seeks Recognition of its Legal Rights to Exist, Restoration

Contact: Mari Margil, Director, CELDF’s International Center for the Rights of Nature 503-381-1755 mmargil@celdf.org

Mercersburg, Pennsylvania: The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) is serving as a legal adviser for the first-in-the-nation lawsuit in which a river is seeking recognition of its legal rights. To be filed next week in federal district court in Colorado, the lawsuit Colorado River v. State of Colorado seeks a ruling that the Colorado River, and its ecosystem, possess certain rights, including the right to exist, flourish, evolve, regenerate, and restoration.

Further, the lawsuit seeks a declaration from the federal court that the State of Colorado — the defendant in the case — may be held liable for violating the rights of the River. The Plaintiff in the action is the Colorado River itself, with members of the environmental organization Deep Green Resistance serving as “next friends” in the lawsuit on behalf of the Colorado River ecosystem. They are represented by Jason Flores-Williams, a noted Colorado civil rights attorney. CELDF has been at the forefront of the growing movement to recognize the rights of nature, and has assisted the first places in the world to develop laws that establish legal […]

Also see CELDF’s Rights-of-Nature Timeline

More about the Colorado River water and the state of Colorado:

PARCHED: Climate change and growth are pushing Colorado toward a water crisis

Plan for Colorado River draws on Blue Mesa, Flaming Gorge reservoirs

The Colorado River is evaporating, climate change largely to blame

Water a focus for growing northern Colorado communities

To Save Their Water Supply, Colorado Farmers Taxed Themselves

Water under Colorado’s Eastern Plains running dry as farmers keep irrigating “great American desert”

U.S.A. and Mexico agree to share a shrinking Colorado River

Rising temperatures sucking water out of the Colorado River

SCOTUS: Upstream States to Reduce River Usage, Aid Downstream States in Drought