In this episode of Following Waters, host Brett Mayer sits down with Greg Felt for a wide-ranging conversation about rivers, water law, and what it really takes to create durable outcomes for water systems in the American West.

Greg lives in Salida, Colorado, where he has been guiding and outfitting fly-fishing trips on the Arkansas River since 1985. His early connection to water came through recreation, fisheries, and the places he loved to spend time. Over the decades, that connection deepened into a career spent navigating the complex intersection of water law, management, ecology, agriculture, and human relationships.

Greg has served fourteen years as a director of the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District, three years with the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, and was appointed in 2020 by Governor Jared Polis as the Arkansas River Basin representative to the Colorado Water Conservation Board. He currently serves as Chairman of the Chaffee County Board of Commissioners.

In this conversation, Brett and Greg explore why understanding water systems where you live and paddle matters—not just for policymakers, but for anyone who cares about rivers and landscapes.

In this episode, we explore:

1. How Greg’s path from fishing guide to water manager unfolded over time
2. Why non-consumptive uses of water—like recreation and environmental flows—cannot succeed in isolation
3. The importance of relationships, trust, and collaboration in water management
4. A plain-language look at the Colorado River Compact and the challenges it presents today
5. The Shoshone in-stream flow water rights success story, and why it matters for fish, agriculture, recreation, and downstream users
6. What participation actually looks like for citizens, paddlers, and river advocates
7. Why water systems are inherently complex—and why long-term engagement is essential

This episode is a reminder that rivers don’t just flow through landscapes—they flow through legal systems, governance structures, communities, and competing needs. The outcomes we see on the water are shaped by decisions made far upstream in time, policy, and relationship-building.

Whether you’re a paddler, angler, landowner, or simply someone who wants to better understand how water works where you live, this conversation offers insight, context, and perspective on the long work of following waters.

Mentioned in this episode:

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