Rights of Rivers swell in Colorado.

Diversion of river water for agriculture or industry was prioritized with no thought to environmental concerns or the river itself. These laws can be updated to clarify that keeping water in a river to ensure its health and the functioning of river ecosystems would also fit the definition of beneficial use, perhaps as extensions of existing instream flow programs. River guardians could then advocate on rivers' behalf in administrative proceedings, permitting, or litigation, including litigation in water courts that are established specifically to adjudicate disputes over water rights. [Extracted from the article]