Helping Rivers and Watersheds through Your Colorado Tax Return

The Healthy Rivers Fund, originally called the Colorado Watershed Protection Fund, was created in 2002 with a voluntary tax check-off line on Colorado State income tax forms where Coloradans can contribute a portion of their tax refunds. The program is unique among income tax check offs for its extensive oversight. The fund is housed within the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), and is used to support grants for projects within Colorado to preserve and enhance watershed health. Applications are reviewed and grants awarded collaboratively by the CWCB, the Colorado Water Quality Control Division, and the Colorado Watershed Assembly (a non-profit dedicated to collaborative efforts to preserve the ecologic health of Colorado watersheds). Over the years, the fund has helped support dozens of collaborative local projects by Trout Unlimited chapters and other local watershed stewards, benefiting rivers and streams across the state.

You can help by supporting the Healthy Rivers Fund on your own 2020 Colorado tax return! By contributing a portion of your state tax refund toward the Healthy Rivers Fund, you will support the grant program and see your contribution pooled with those from thousands of other Coloradans and then leveraged by the local watershed partners to make a difference for the rivers you love.

Colorado Trout Unlimited is also helping lead the charge to keep this program going in future years. The program is set to expire with tax year 2020, unless extended by bill. We are working with sponsors Senator Cleave Simpson and Representative Donald Valdez to extend the program for another 10 years, until tax year 2030. The program has been both popular and successful at helping to protect our rivers and riparian habitat, and we are optimistic that the reauthorization will enjoy broad bipartisan support. We will share more information as the bill is introduced, including how you can let your legislators know you support the Healthy Rivers Fund and its continuation for the next decade.

Learn about past projects funded by the Healthy Rivers fund here.