A report last week highlighted threats to Colorado's waters and wetlands under regulatory guidance resulting from two Supreme Court cases. Compiled by the National Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited and Trout Unlimited, the report identifies cases where the loss of Clean Water Act (CWA) protections has put Colorado waters at risk for pollution, unrestricted drainage and destruction.

"Without these protections, Colorado's limited and precious aquatic resources are at further risk," said Dennis Buechler, director emeritus of the Colorado Wildlife Federation and author of the report. "In some instances where protections have been removed completely, the state of law has caused unnecessary confusion."

An example of this confusion is the case of Hidden Lake, an 88-acre lake in Westminster, Colo., which has had its Clean Water Act protections removed because it supposedly does not have a surface connection to waters covered by the CWA. The lake boasts an excellent small-mouth bass fishery and is used by local residents for recreation such as swimming and boating. After the City of Westminster protested, protections were restored. But protections were not in place for more than half a decade.

For more on this situation, please go to ducks.org -- Jay Cassell