Adam Frisch, DEMOCRAT
U.S. House of Representatives - District 3 Candidate
If you could enact one water policy change in Colorado, what would it be? (250 word limit)
We cannot solve all of Colorado’s water problems on the backs of Western and Southern Colorado. Communities across CD3 depend on a clean, reliable water supply to power their businesses and grow the crops that feed our country. It’s critical that as much Colorado water as possible stays in our region (as opposed to being siphoned off to Denver) and state for farming and ranching, recreation, and biodiversity. I want to be the voice and conduit for leaders and communities on the Western Slope and in Southern Colorado to make sure their water is managed according to their needs and in a way that supports them and their families. Unlike my opponent, I am not being politically or financially supported by anyone who wants to pipe water from places CD3 to the Front Range. Let me be clear: anyone who wants to engage in a scheme like this will have to go through me.
What outcomes of Colorado River negotiations would you advocate for during your term? (250 word limit)
The most important outcome is to make sure as much as the water that Colorado and the Upper Basin States were allocated is allowed to be used for our diverse uses of ag, ranching, farming, recreation, and environmental protection. When in Congress, my job will be to support and advocate for Colorado water leaders like Becky Mitchell and Cleave Simpson. These decisions should be guided by the people on the ground, not bureaucrats or politicians in Washington DC, and my goal would be to elevate those voices and ensure those needs are met. I want to amplify their great work, and partner with them to deliver badly-needed resources that will improve our water storage and infrastructure. We need to recognize that water users in the Lower Basin are not more important than water users in the Upper Basin, and work towards a solution that prevents overuse in the Lower Basin. I will also defend against attempts at Compact curtailment in the Upper Basin States. Finally, we need to ensure that Lake Powell and Lake Mead are managed in a way that responds to actual hydrology and protect storage, and we must preserve federal reserved water rights for Tribal Nations.
Jeff Hurd, REPUBLICAN
U.S. House of Representatives - District 3 Candidate
If you could enact one water policy change in Colorado, what would it be? (250 word limit)
If I could enact one water policy change in Colorado, it would be to strengthen local control over water resources while securing federal support for critical infrastructure improvements. Water is essential to Colorado’s agricultural economy and communities, particularly in rural areas like the Roaring Fork Watershed and the San Luis Valley. I would advocate for federal policies that empower local stakeholders—such as farmers, ranchers, and water managers—to lead water management efforts, rather than imposing top-down solutions. At the same time, I would work to secure federal funding for innovative groundwater management programs, aquifer recharge projects, and modernized irrigation systems to improve water use efficiency. By enhancing local decision-making while ensuring federal resources are available, we can protect Colorado’s water supply for future generations without compromising the needs of today’s farmers, ranchers, and communities.
What outcomes of Colorado River negotiations would you advocate for during your term? (250 word limit)
During my term, I would advocate for a fair and balanced approach to Colorado River negotiations that prioritizes the needs of Colorado’s agricultural and rural communities. The Colorado River is a lifeline for the Western Slope, and I would strongly oppose efforts to divert water away from our state to meet the demands of downstream users. I would fight to ensure that Colorado’s water rights are protected and collaborate with local stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions that balance water use for agriculture, recreation, and environmental preservation. Additionally, I would work to secure federal investments in water infrastructure projects that enhance storage capacity and improve the efficiency of water delivery systems. By advocating for a Colorado-first approach, I aim to protect our state’s water resources and ensure long-term water security for our communities.
Adam Withrow, UNITY
U.S. House of Representatives - District 3 Candidate
If you could enact one water policy change in Colorado, what would it be? (250 word limit)
I would enact a complete ban on for-profit water speculation. This would include both water shares on rivers and ground water resources.
What outcomes of Colorado River negotiations would you advocate for during your term? (250 word limit)
I would advocate for greater end use regulations. Too much water ends up used for golf courses and hydraulic fracturing. No individual entity on the river has any more right to the water than any other, but certain uses are flagrantly wasteful and should be curbed. The sustenance of agriculture and human life take precedence over the financial interests of the gas industry and the foolish placements of massive acreages of sod for recreation
Gary Swing, UNITY
U.S. House of Representatives - District 3 Candidate
If you could enact one water policy change in Colorado, what would it be? (250 word limit)
Thanks for inviting me to participate in your water policy questionnaire. I lack the knowledge or experience to answer your specific questions.
Life on Earth exists within narrow ecological parameters that are disrupted by the impact of human overpopulation and overconsumption. We have been in a state of ecological overshoot since about 1970. Ecological overshoot is causing rapid mass extinction of animal species.
Human beings are part of an interdependent web of life. We need to move away from an anthropocentric point of view and preserve habitat for other species to coexist with us.
The Living Planet report estimates that the Earth could not sustain a human population greater than 1.5 billion if the average human consumed as much as the average American. In 1804, there were about one billion people on Earth. Since 1970, the Earth’s human population has grown from 3.6 billion to more than 8 billion people, while the population of wildlife vertebrate species has decreased by about 70 percent. William Rees, the originator of ecological footprint analysis, estimates that the maximum sustainable human population would be no more than one to two billion people - if residents of wealthy nations reduce their individual ecofootprints to no more than 25% of their current size.
Pollution taxes balanced by a guaranteed minimum income should be used to encourage reduction of ecological footprints. Public funding for birth control should be used to encourage lower birth rates.
The states using the most Colorado River water are California, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. Comparison of bioproductive capacity with ecological footprints in the 2015 State of the States report showed Arizona with 14.4 times its maximum sustainable human population, California at 8.7 times its maximum, Utah and Nevada 4.4 times their limit to growth, and Colorado at 3.4 times its limit. Yet, human population continues to grow.
About 80% of Colorado River water is used for agriculture. Most of that goes to livestock, a major contributor to water pollution and climate change. Humans are just one of millions of species on Earth, but we have transformed the ecosystem into a toxic, artificial environment.
Plastics now have greater mass than all animal life on Earth. Things constructed by people, including buildings, roads, and vehicles have more mass than all plant and animal life on Earth.
Ten thousand years ago, humans accounted for less than 1% of mammal biomass on Earth. Now, humans are 34% of mammal biomass, livestock are 62%. Wildlife mammals are just 4%. Cattle alone account for 35% of mammal biomass on Earth. Humans eat 360 million metric tons of meat annually, killing about 1.2 trillion animals each year.
The biggest Colorado River steak holders are cattle. They deserve a seat at the table, not a place in a serving dish on the table. Animal welfare laws should be extended to farmed animals. Subsidies for animal agriculture should be eliminated. True cost pricing should account for the environmental impact of animal agriculture. Factory farms should be phased out.
What outcomes of Colorado River negotiations would you advocate for during your term? (250 word limit)
Thanks for inviting me to participate in your water policy questionnaire. I lack the knowledge or experience to answer your specific questions.
Life on Earth exists within narrow ecological parameters that are disrupted by the impact of human overpopulation and overconsumption. We have been in a state of ecological overshoot since about 1970. Ecological overshoot is causing rapid mass extinction of animal species.
Human beings are part of an interdependent web of life. We need to move away from an anthropocentric point of view and preserve habitat for other species to coexist with us.
The Living Planet report estimates that the Earth could not sustain a human population greater than 1.5 billion if the average human consumed as much as the average American. In 1804, there were about one billion people on Earth. Since 1970, the Earth’s human population has grown from 3.6 billion to more than 8 billion people, while the population of wildlife vertebrate species has decreased by about 70 percent. William Rees, the originator of ecological footprint analysis, estimates that the maximum sustainable human population would be no more than one to two billion people - if residents of wealthy nations reduce their individual ecofootprints to no more than 25% of their current size.
Pollution taxes balanced by a guaranteed minimum income should be used to encourage reduction of ecological footprints. Public funding for birth control should be used to encourage lower birth rates.
The states using the most Colorado River water are California, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. Comparison of bioproductive capacity with ecological footprints in the 2015 State of the States report showed Arizona with 14.4 times its maximum sustainable human population, California at 8.7 times its maximum, Utah and Nevada 4.4 times their limit to growth, and Colorado at 3.4 times its limit. Yet, human population continues to grow.
About 80% of Colorado River water is used for agriculture. Most of that goes to livestock, a major contributor to water pollution and climate change. Humans are just one of millions of species on Earth, but we have transformed the ecosystem into a toxic, artificial environment.
Plastics now have greater mass than all animal life on Earth. Things constructed by people, including buildings, roads, and vehicles have more mass than all plant and animal life on Earth.
Ten thousand years ago, humans accounted for less than 1% of mammal biomass on Earth. Now, humans are 34% of mammal biomass, livestock are 62%. Wildlife mammals are just 4%. Cattle alone account for 35% of mammal biomass on Earth. Humans eat 360 million metric tons of meat annually, killing about 1.2 trillion animals each year.
The biggest Colorado River steak holders are cattle. They deserve a seat at the table, not a place in a serving dish on the table. Animal welfare laws should be extended to farmed animals. Subsidies for animal agriculture should be eliminated. True cost pricing should account for the environmental impact of animal agriculture. Factory farms should be phased out.
After several attempts to contact candidates via email and Facebook over a three week period, we did not receive comments from the following candidates for U.S. Representative: Joe Neguse (District 2), Marshall Dawson (District 2), Jan Kok (District 2), Gaylon Kent (District 2), Cynthia Munhos de Aquino Sirianni (District 2), Mike Watson (District 2), and James Wiley (District 3)
After extensive research, no contact information was found for the following candidate for U.S. Representative: Frank Hernandez (District 3)