- Proposition 137 will appear on Colorado’s November ballot.
- The measure would use existing sales tax revenue rather than create a new tax.
- Money would support water, wildfire, forest and land conservation programs.
- The Colorado Legislature could reduce the funding during tight budget years.
- Supporters say more than 150 organizations, businesses and public figures have endorsed the measure.
Monday, September 28, 2026 — Colorado voters will decide in November whether some existing state sales tax revenue should be dedicated to protecting water supplies, reducing wildfire risks and conserving forests and open lands.
Proposition 137 has qualified for the November ballot, according to a September 28 announcement from Western Resource Advocates
, one of the groups leading the campaign supporting the measure.
The proposal would not create a new tax. Instead, it would redirect money collected through Colorado’s existing sales tax on sporting goods and outdoor equipment.
Supporters say the money would help fund existing state programs for drinking water, watersheds, wildfire prevention, forests, parks, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation.
Connecting forests, fires and drinking water.
Water protection is a major part of the proposal.
Projects that could receive funding include efforts to protect watersheds that supply drinking water and restore forests in areas where wildfire could threaten those water sources.
Alan Salazar, chief executive officer of Denver Water, said forests play an important role in the water system serving more than 1.5 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,” Salazar said.
He said larger and more intense wildfires are damaging forested watersheds and affecting the quality of source water.
Proposition 137 would fund forest restoration intended to make those areas more resilient to severe wildfire, according to supporters of the measure.
Where the money could go.
Proposition 137 would direct money toward existing state programs that supporters describe as underfunded.
Those programs could provide grants for watershed protection, forest restoration and wildfire-risk reduction.
Funding could also support conservation of working lands and ranches, improvements to trails and parks, new state parks, wildlife corridors, habitat restoration and removal of invasive species.
Other funding could support outdoor recreation and communities whose economies depend heavily on visitors and outdoor activities.
The programs are primarily housed within the Colorado State Forest Service, Colorado Department of Natural Resources and Great Outdoors Colorado, according to Western Resource Advocates. The programs have reporting requirements governing how they spend their money.
Legislature would retain some control.
The proposal is a statutory measure, not a constitutional amendment.
That distinction would leave the Colorado Legislature with some flexibility over the money. During years when the state budget is tight, lawmakers could reduce the amount going to the programs to help pay for other state functions.
Supporters say that flexibility allows Colorado to dedicate more money to conservation and wildfire prevention without creating a new tax.
“Deepening drought and severe wildfire are growing problems and they’re outpacing our state’s ability to keep up,” said Tarn Udall, senior attorney at Western Resource Advocates and registered agent for Proposition 137.
Udall said the proposal is intended to address threats to water, land and communities before they become larger problems.
The campaign reports more than 150 endorsements.
The campaign supporting Proposition 137 reported September 28 that it had received more than 150 endorsements.
Supporters listed by the campaign include wildfire experts, land trusts, water and electric utilities, outdoor businesses, conservation organizations and current and former Colorado leaders.
Among those identified by the campaign are former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter and former U.S. Sen. Mark Udall.
Outdoor companies and conservation organizations are also among the supporters.
The November vote will determine whether Colorado dedicates the existing sales tax revenue to the water, wildfire, conservation and recreation programs described in Proposition 137.
Editorial Note: This article is based on information provided in a September 28, 2026, press release from Western Resource Advocates, one of the organizations supporting Proposition 137. Western-Water.com has not independently researched arguments or organizations opposing the measure. Where appropriate, statements and descriptions advocating for Proposition 137 are attributed to proponents. You can view the campaign website here.
