FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2025 

CONTACT:
Lindsay DeFrates, Public Information Officer – 970.456.8973; ldefrates@crwcd.org  

Poll Shows Water Remains Top Priority for West Slope Voters

Triennial polling conducted by the Colorado River District highlights strong interest in water issues; trust in the work of the River District.

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — In an ongoing effort to better understand the opinions and concerns of West Slope constituents as they relate to water issues, the Colorado River District conducted public opinion research during the month of September 2025. Included in the poll were questions addressing the many challenges facing West Slope water and impacting the health of Colorado’s waterways, as well as voter perceptions of the District.

“This triennial survey is one of the many ways we seek input and feedback on the priorities and opinions of West Slope water users,” said Zane Kessler, Director of Government Relations. “What we have seen repeatedly since we began this work in 2009 is a deep concern among our constituents related to West Slope water security and out of basin demands for our most valuable natural resource.”

Conducted by New Bridge Strategy, a Colorado-based public opinion research firm, the survey collected input from 600 voters within the River District’s boundaries. Some key takeaways from this year’s poll are included below.

Polling Highlights

  • More than two-in-three voters have a favorable opinion of the Colorado River District.
  • Protecting drinking water and fighting to keep water on the West Slope are the most important issues to voters and the things they think the Colorado River District does best.
  • Nearly four-in-five voters say Colorado does not have an adequate water supply to meet future needs.
  • Over 90% of voters believe that issues such as inadequate water supplies, availability of water for farming and ranching, loss of farmlands, ranches and orchards, water levels, lower snowpack, more frequent droughts, and wildfire conditions are serious concerns.
  • 95% of voters view out-of-state investment firms and hedge funds purchasing Colorado water rights as a threat to Western Colorado’s water security.

The polling results were presented to the Colorado River District’s Board of Directors at their Fourth Quarterly meeting on Oct. 21 and are available in the meeting packet beginning on page 206. Click here to see survey results.

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Press Release as PDF