Protect the Flows

Protect the Flows is a coalition of businesses that seek to maintain a healthy and flowing Colorado River system.  Over 1,100 businesses from wineries and bed & breakfasts to banks and Fortune 500 companies currently support PTF’s efforts to support and sustain the environment, business, recreation and overall quality of life in the Colorado River basin.

In fall 2014, Protect the Flows commissioned the Seidman Research Institute to produce an independent and objective quantification of the economic importance of the Colorado River to the seven U.S. bordering states for one full calendar or fiscal year.

This analysis has been implemented at a state level for Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; and at a county level for seven Southern California geographies (Imperial, LA, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura).  No additional insights are provided for other California-based counties as they do not directly receive Colorado River water.

A copy of the final report can be downloaded below:


Project File:

The Economic Importance of the Colorado River to the Basin Region (Completed December 2014; Published January 2015)