The Colorado River is one of America’s iconic waterways. Even those living outside its namesake state are likely familiar with its importance, as it provides drinking water for some 40 million people across seven states and 30 Tribal Nations. Undoubtedly, the greatest attraction along the river’s course is the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but here in Colorado it is home to some of the best trout fishing in the state, with around 40 miles designated as Gold Medal trout fishing water – the state’s premier fisheries designation.
Unfortunately, what some have termed “America’s most endangered river” faces a new threat. A coalition of Utah counties known as the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition has proposed construction of the Uinta Basin Railway (UBR), an 88-mile rail line across northern Utah connecting the oil fields in the Uinta basin to existing rail lines in Colorado. Once in Colorado, the proposed route would bring up to 350,000 barrels per day of waxy crude oil along 100 miles of the Colorado River on the way to Denver and eventually to refineries in Texas.
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