What We Do

Focus areas:

The American Rivers Action Fund is the only organization focused on the politics of advancing strong river and water policy.

We are confronting our nation’s water crisis by:

Expanding advocacy to state and local governments by embedding lobbyists into our regional teams, so we can advance bold policy solutions at every level of government.
Advancing ballot and bond measures to engage voters, build public demand for action, and drive solutions for clean water.
Launching a Congressional River Caucus to cultivate and support decision-makers to become river champions and legislation to address the water crisis.
Deploying strategic communications based on public opinion research and traditional polling techniques, and sharing messaging resources and insights that illustrate how water issues are relevant to every voter. Read more at Messaging and Research landing page.

Summary of Action Fund/Water wins

2025 – City of Durango Ballot Issue 2A

In spring, 2025, the Action Fund endorsed City of Durango, Colorado’s Ballot Issue 2A, extending an existing half-cent sales tax dedicated to parks, open space, trails and the Animas River, as well as specific capital improvements for the city. Since originally passing in 2005, the fund has contributed nearly $10 million to the Animas River, which runs through town. Benefits have included a new whitewater park -- including the acquisition of a dedicated in-stream flow right -- as well as new river access points, riverside trails, and maintenance in the river corridor itself. Ballot Issue 2A was passed with 67% approval and extends the existing tax for the next 30 years.

2025 – State of New Mexico Senate Bill 21

In 2025, American Rivers Action Fund supported surface water protection legislation in New Mexico as two bills: Senate Bill 21 (primacy bill) establishes authorities to take over permitting for waters that still have federal protections, then SB 22 establishes authorities to permit those waters (95% of NM waters) no longer federally protected under the Clean Water Act. Ultimately, they were combined into one bill - SB 21. The Action Fund worked closely with lead partners and the bill's sponsor in the effort to educate lawmakers, provide comment, and engage the public. Next, a rulemaking process will kick off with the New Mexico Environment Department to officially develop these surface water permitting regulations.

2024 – Colorado Proposition JJ

In 2015, American Rivers was instrumental in developing Colorado’s first State Water Plan. We pursued the development of the Plan in a comprehensive, broad-based approach that prioritized the protection of Colorado’s rivers while also recognizing the pressures and needs of a growing state.

In 2019, Colorado voters passed Proposition DD, which legalized and taxed sports betting and dedicated tax revenues to regulate sports betting, provide gambling addiction services, and conserve and protect Colorado’s water resources.

Tax revenue from sports betting has proven to be vital in addressing Colorado’s water future, funding crucial initiatives such as water conservation, infrastructure improvements, and sustainable water management. But Proposition DD limited the amount of tax revenues collected from sports betting to $29 million per year — a limit that was exceeded in 2024 and would be every year in the future. To date, Proposition DD has earned more than $100 million for water projects across the state, and with the passage of JJ that number will grow even more. The fund “supports water projects across the state, including water storage and supply, agricultural projects, and watershed health and recreation projects.”

In November 2024, Proposition JJ passed with more than 76% approval and strong bi-partisan support, winning in 63 of the 64 counties in Colorado, and garnering more votes than any other individual ballot issue presented on the November ballot.

Watch the video: Water is Colorado’s most valuable natural resource

2020 – Colorado River District Ballot Issue 7A

Ballot measure 7A raised property taxes across 15 counties on Colorado’s western slope by a half-mill, or an extra $1.90 per year for every $100,000 of residential home value and has raised an additional $5 million annually for the River District. This money has been used to create the Community Funding Partnership, providing much needed dollars for multi-purpose water projects on the Western Slope in five project categories: productive agriculture, infrastructure, healthy rivers, watershed health and water quality, and conservation and efficiency. The proposal received wide support among county commissioners, agricultural organizations and environmental groups, including input and endorsement from American Rivers.

The River District, based in Glenwood Springs and created by the state legislature in 1937 to develop and protect water supplies in western Colorado, spans Grand, Summit, Eagle, Pitkin, Gunnison, Garfield, Rio Blanco, Routt, Moffat, Mesa, Delta, Montrose, Ouray, Hinsdale and Saguache counties.

2020 – St. Vrain River-Left Hand River District Ballot Question 7A

On Colorado’s Front Range, American Rivers supported, and voters passed, St. Vrain River-Left Hand River District Ballot Question 7A, a property tax increase for the next 10 years, with 68% approval. The St. Vrain and Left Hand district encompasses some 500 square miles along the St. Vrain and Left Hand creeks in Boulder, Weld and Larimer counties. Voters agreed to a mill levy increase from 0.156 mills to 1.25 mills through 2030.

The tax increase is estimated to generate an additional $3.3 million per year for the district starting in 2021, up from the $421,000 generated annually by the current mill levy.

District leaders say they will use the extra money for projects related to water quality, river and creek health, water education, agriculture, storage and conservation, among others.

2019 – Colorado Proposition DD

In 2019, American Rivers endorsed and supported, and Colorado voters passed, Proposition DD, which legalized and taxed online sports betting and dedicated tax revenues to regulate sports betting, provide gambling addiction services, and conserve and protect Colorado’s water resources. The measure passed with just over 51% of the vote.

But Proposition DD limited the amount of tax revenues collected from sports betting to $29 million per year — a limit that was exceeded in 2024 and will be every year in the future, hence the subsequent passage of Proposition DD in 2024.

Other water initiatives (non-American Rivers Action Fund) in the 2024 election, courtesy TPL’s Conservation Finance Election Summary.