Protecting Rivers, Preserving Futures

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PRESS RELEASE
LIVING RIVERS AND KANE CREEK DEVELOPMENT WATCH CHALLENGE KANE CREEK LUXURY RESORT’S WATER RIGHTS
Note: The developers have recently changed the name of their luxury resort from Kane Creek Preservation and Development, LLC to Echo Canyon, a Preliminary Municipality.
Note: The citizen's group known as Kane Creek Development Watch has a nickname: "The Watch"
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Living Rivers and Kane Creek Development Watch (hereafter referenced together as “Watch”) have filed a lawsuit in the Seventh Judicial District Court of Grand County challenging the validity of the water rights claimed by Kane Creek luxury resort developers (“Developers”). Watch’s lawsuit states that the Developers’ groundwater and Colorado River water rights were not put to beneficial use for more than seven years, which, under Utah law, means the water rights are subject to forfeiture. Development, even the preliminary bulldozing, cannot legally continue without a water supply.
Local opposition to the proposed Kane Creek luxury resort has been strong and consistent, with residents voicing concerns at standing-room only public hearings. “This project does nothing to address Grand County’s affordable housing crisis—in fact, it makes it worse,” said Laura Long, a Watch activist and frequent speaker at the hearings. “It’s an exclusive enclave for wealthy investors that would drive up land prices, strain local infrastructure, cost local taxpayers money, and destroy the natural character of the canyon and the Colorado River floodplain.” The resort proposal (which has changed several times) calls for over 550 high-end housing units, 70,000 square feet of commercial space, and 100 overnight accommodations in the heart of the Kings Bottom area.
Bob Phillips, a water right owner and Moab Mosquito Abatement District manager for 23 years who frequently observed and assessed the proposed project site, says, “Utah law is very clear that if water rights aren't put to beneficial use for seven years, those water rights are no longer good. Anyone who has spent time in the Kane Creek development area knows that there's barely been any irrigation there for decades. Therefore, the developers have lost their right to this water--and there are plenty of other people who want it.”
In their prior protest to the use of these water rights, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) noted that several natural springs on public lands adjacent to development could shrink or dry up due to increased groundwater use at the devlopment. The BLM's springs are critical for wildlife and nearby native plants and hanging gardens--places like Moonflower Canyon, Hunter Canyon, Pritchett Canyon, Kane Canyon, and the Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study Area.
John Weisheit, Colorado Riverkeeper and director of Living Rivers agrees: “We need to show respect to the Colorado River and our water supplies in times of prolonged drought, water scarcity, flood events and in land use. The Developers of this luxury resort on the Colorado River fail to do so.”
Dave Closser, a Moab resident, has been monitoring the resort’s progress from the beginning. He is concerned about safety and delays on Kane Creek Boulevard, a rough and narrow gateway access road for public recreation traversed daily by tourists and Grand County residents alike. “The resort construction and massive infrastructure development will make accessing all of Kane Creek Boulevard, and nearby recreation areas, difficult and dangerous for years. There will be long delays on the narrow road along the River, and there are no go-arounds. Local businesses could be forced to cancel or reduce their operations which will trickle down to their bottom line and the pockets of their employees. And who is going to pay for the road expansion? It's going to cost millions of dollars, and the federal government has already declined to fund it.” Several local tourism business owners submitted statements in support of the lawsuit, noting that the resort and its water use could damage their businesses.
Kane Creek Development Watch is a grassroots citizen's group based in Moab. It sprung up in 2024, in response to this resort proposal. Its strong network of donors and activists have been pushing back against the well-funded and politically-connected Developers, including by funding this lawsuit (which is funded entirely by hundreds of local residents and visitors) and collecting 17,850 signatures from residents and others opposed to this massive resort. Watch is dually focused on (a) mitigating impacts from the development on the unique area it would decimate, the surrounding ecosystem, and adjoining public lands, as well as (b) preventing additional strain on the water supply of the Colorado River and its tributaries, which are over-appropriated.
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Living Rivers promotes river restoration through mobilization. By articulating conservation and alternative management strategies to the public, we seek to revive the natural habitat and spirit of rivers by undoing the extensive damage done by dams, diversions and pollution on the Colorado Plateau. Our work is funded entirely by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations. Living Rivers is recognized as a charitable/educational organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Code. According to the law, donations are tax-deductible. Donate today to support the conservation of our rivers!

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The Colorado River Basin Project aims to comprehensively develop water resources in both the upper and lower Colorado River basins. Authorized for various purposes, including flood control, navigation enhancement, and water storage and delivery, the project addresses diverse needs such as land reclamation, municipal water supplies, and industrial usage. Additionally, it endeavors to enhance water quality, promote outdoor recreation, improve wildlife habitats, and even generate electricity, making it a multifaceted initiative crucial for the sustainable management of the Colorado River.

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Forty years ago, a major public outcry succeeded in stopping the construction of two major dams, which would have inundated Grand Canyon National Park. The famed Colorado River and its unique desert ecosystem would be preserved—or so it was thought.


Unknown to many, a less noticeable but nonetheless lethal blow had already been delivered. The 1963 completion of Glen Canyon Dam, upstream and just outside the park, was beginning to unleash a current of devastation, which now, four decades and numerous violations of federal laws later, has nearly destroyed all the native habitat of Grand Canyon’s famed river corridor.

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It's not a matter of if, but when, the Colorado River plumbing system will collapse. Water supply and power generation for metropolitan areas from Los Angeles to Denver will be affected, as will the region's multi-billion-dollar agricultural industry. The sixty million acre-feet of water that can be stored in the basin's reservoirs provide a cushion in times of moderate reductions in river flows, but as is presently being experienced, they are no match for a sustained drought. Learn more by clicking the button below!

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  • What makes Living Rivers Colorado Riverkeepers so popular?

    Living Rivers Colorado Riverkeepers stands as a beloved nonprofit due to its unwavering dedication to environmental stewardship. As a nonprofit organization, we prioritize ecological preservation, ensuring the longevity of the Colorado River and its surrounding ecosystems. Through our nonprofit initiatives, we inspire communities to actively engage in conservation efforts, fostering a sense of collective responsibility. With nonprofit support, we implement impactful projects aimed at restoring river health, preserving biodiversity, and advocating for sustainable water management practices. Your involvement with our nonprofit empowers us to continue our vital mission, protecting the natural wonders of the Colorado River basin.

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    For decades, economic interests and political alliances have overshadowed rational watershed planning in the West. The result is a vast plumbing system of dams and diversions causing significant environmental damage and struggling to meet increasing water demands. National headlines frequently feature stories of rivers running dry and conflicts between environmentalists and farmers due to insufficient water allocation.

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    Living Rivers advocates for readily available yet underutilized solutions such as municipal water conservation, recycling, and irrigation efficiency improvements. Additionally, it emphasizes changes in cropping patterns and highlights the ecological damage caused by hydroelectric power generation. Despite the feasibility and economic benefits of these approaches, they face opposition from entrenched special interests, hindering their widespread implementation.

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