Major Wildfire and Conservation Funding Measure Makes Nov. Ballot

Prop 137 would protect water, help prevent severe wildfires and conserve lands and forests 

DENVER, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Proposition 137 has officially earned a place on Colorado's November ballot and, without raising taxes, will invest in reducing the risk of wildfires, protecting and conserving water and land, strengthening watershed and forest health, expanding access to the outdoors and sustaining Colorado's outdoor economy. The measure is led by Western Resource Advocates, The Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Lands, and Conservation Colorado.

Amidst Colorado's lowest snowpack on record, historic drought and a summer of extreme wildfire, Prop 137 offers the state an opportunity to proactively address these challenges.

"Coloradans love and rely on our rivers, iconic landscapes and unparalleled outdoor recreation opportunities," said Tarn Udall, senior attorney at Western Resource Advocates and registered agent for Prop 137, "but these resources and the Colorado way of life are increasingly threatened. Deepening drought and severe wildfire are growing problems and they're outpacing our state's ability to keep up. Prop 137 will get us off the back foot, solving problems that threaten our water, land and communities before they become crises, and doing so without raising taxes."

Prop 137 would redirect money from the state's existing sales tax on sporting goods and outdoor equipment and dedicate those funds to protect drinking water, help prevent catastrophic wildfires and preserve Colorado's forests, lands and open spaces. Because Prop 137 is statutory, the legislature will retain the flexibility to reduce funding as needed in low budget years to meet other crucial state functions.

By supporting existing but underfunded grant programs Prop 137 would enable:

• Watershed protection projects to safeguard drinking water supplies
• Work to reduce wildfire risk and restore forests in fire-prone watersheds
• Conservation protection of working lands and ranches
• Trail and park improvements and new state parks
• Wildlife corridor and habitat restoration projects and invasive species removal
• Support for Colorado's growing outdoor recreation economy and gateway communities
• Enhanced outdoor recreation opportunities and access across the state

Prop 137 would fund existing but underfunded state programs, which are primarily housed under the Colorado State Forest Service, Department of Natural Resources and Great Outdoors Colorado. Each program has strict reporting requirements to ensure funds are used as intended.

"Your vote of 'yes' on Proposition 137 supports local, regional, and state-level change that prepares our communities for wildfires and keeps our homes, lands and waters protected. Wildfire preparedness is generational; community-based solutions and state-led funding are key," said Jennifer Mueller, CEO of The Ember Alliance. "If you want to ensure that our kids and future generations can also enjoy the places we love as Coloradans today, then a 'yes' on Prop 137 is a priority."

Colorado is running out of time to protect the lands, water and forests that define our state. As temperatures rise and drought places increasing pressure on rivers and water supplies and wildfires intensify, this initiative will safeguard water for all.

"Denver Water is responsible for delivering clean water to more than one and a half million Coloradans. Our drinking water starts as snowpack and rainfall in the mountains, filters through our forests and flows into the rivers that supply our communities," said Alan Salazar, CEO of Denver Water. "But bigger, more intense wildfires are increasingly damaging our forested watersheds and degrading our source water supplies. Proposition 137 would provide crucial funding to restore our forests and make them more resilient against the threat of catastrophic wildfire, helping ensure the high-quality water supply that Coloradans depend on."

The campaign has received over 150 endorsements to date from wildfire experts, land trusts, water and electric utilities, Colorado-based outdoor businesses, outdoor access organizations, conservation groups, and current and former Colorado leaders. Endorsers include former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, former U.S. Senator Mark Udall; outdoor businesses like Big Agnes, La Sportiva North America Inc., SCARPA North America, Coleman, and Aspen One; and conservation advocates like National Wildlife Federation, The Wilderness Society, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, NRDC Action Fund and the Environmental Defense Fund.

For more information visit YesOnProp137.com.

Allie Ruckman | [email protected] | 983-203-1103

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SOURCE Western Resource Advocates