American Whitewater

American Whitewater's Colorado Access Program is focused on improving legal public access to Colorado's rivers by working directly with landowners, law makers, and paddlers. Colorado is the only state in the west that has yet to determine the extent of the public's rights to float and recreate on streams running through private property. Numerous landowner-paddler conflicts still arise in Colorado when rivers are blocked by fences, downed trees, or other obstructions. Although the Colorado Constitution says that the rivers of the state belong to the people, a 1979 Colorado Supreme Court case and subsequent Attorney General opinion presents numerous unresolved issues. Landowners and boaters frequently find themselves in conflicts, often with neither side understanding their rights. 

American Whitewater is working tirelessly this year to pass state legislation to codify legal public access so that boaters can travel down rivers and get around hazards without fear of trespass charges or landowner conflicts. As part of this, American Whitewater and our partners are committed to ensuring that boaters have the tools to be responsible stewards of our rivers and respectful to property owners. We need all the help we can get right now to get a bill introduced in the state legislature and passed into state law in 2026. Please help us reach our $80,000 fundraising goal for our Colorado Access Program to support our staff time, outreach, and legal expertise needed to achieve success.