Amid persistent volatility in Colorado’s state budget, Headwaters was charged with identifying a stable, long-term revenue source to support critical water projects statewide. In 2019, the team partnered with a bipartisan coalition of legislators to craft and refer a forward-looking measure to the ballot that authorized the use of legalized sports betting tax money to fund needed Colorado water projects.  This innovative solution created a durable funding stream for conservation, infrastructure, and future planning. In the years since, Headwaters has continued to strengthen the fund’s impact by successfully narrowing the number of tax deductions the sports betting industry can take and “de-Brucing” the water fund, ensuring that more dollars flow directly to water projects. Our sustained leadership on this effort has significantly expanded Colorado’s capacity to protect its most vital natural resource.