Pitkin County signs intergovernmental commitment to not dam Crystal River

Pitkin County committed on Wednesday to join with four other local governing bodies in an agreement not to dam or otherwise obstruct the free flowing of the Crystal River. 

This decision was formalized at the agreement’s second reading, following a first reading on April 8. The agreement is among Pitkin County, Gunnison County, the town of Marble, the Colorado River Water Conservation District and the West Divide Conservancy District — all parties would agree, once they have signed, not to approve or support the construction of any dam or “transmountain diversion” to the Crystal River. 

While not all participating bodies have formally approved the intergovernmental agreement yet, many have expressed some amount of support for passing the agreement, according to Anne Marie McPhee, deputy county attorney for Pitkin County. 

The Pitkin County Commissioners initially hesitated due to a lack of enforcement power that the agreement had, questioning the effectiveness since any of the governing bodies could withdraw from the agreement at any time. 

Despite this, they agreed the commitment represents an important step toward a “Wild and Scenic” river designation. A Wild and Scenic designation from the federal government could help the county fund and pursue future conservation efforts in the Crystal River; the county has been pursuing the designation since the U.S. Forest Service initially found 39 miles of the river to be eligible for the designation in 2002.

“While it’s only a small step, I think it is an important and symbolic step of having us all on the same piece of paper, collectively opposing dams on the main stem and out-of-basin diversions from the Crystal,” Zane Kessler, director of government relations for the Colorado River District, said during the public comment period on the measure. 

Commissioner Francie Jacober agreed with the public comments made by Kessler and Michael Gorman of Wilderness Workshop, who lauded the symbolism of the step toward river conservation. 

Pitkin County approved the motion unanimously on Wednesday; Gunnison County also signed the agreement this week. 

The remaining signees will consider the agreement in the near future.