Environmentalists hail bipartisan bill to protect native fish in Colorado River

Legislation to protect endangered and threatened native fish in the Colorado River is heading to President Joe Biden’s desk. Environmentalists are hailing the bipartisan work that made it possible.

Proponents of the bill say it does more than just protect fish.

"It's a win, win-win right now for fish, for river health, agriculture, recreation, birds and their Riverside habitat," said Abby Burk with the National Audubon Society. She’s not surprised that the bill got bipartisan support. 

"I feel that the demonstrated success of bringing people together with water projects in support of our connection to the river stands on its own, that when we really get down to the core of it, we all depend upon river health," Burk said.

The bill will help protect four different species of fish – including the humpback chub, which was recently downlisted from endangered to threatened. The farms, cities, and tribes that use the river’s water stand to benefit from a program that boosts fish populations and makes federal penalties for endangered species act violations less likely.