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October 1, 2021
Following the 2021 MLB All-Star Game held in Denver, Colorado this past July, Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Colorado Rockies have partnered with Green Sports Alliance, Change the Course and Colorado Water Trust to help protect the future of water resources in the state and across the American West.
According to the Sierra Club, the Colorado River basin, shared by seven US states and Mexico, is in the midst of a two-decades-long stretch of below-normal flows – which some are calling a megadrout. As of August 2021, 99 percent of the United States west of the Rockies is in drought, as severe a measurement as any in the historical record.
After the Colorado River’s driest 12-month period on record, the partnership will focus on restoring 30 million gallons of water to the critical 15-Mile Reach, a key part of the Colorado River that supports endangered fish, vital ecosystems and downstream communities. The volume of water restored is estimated to be equivalent to the season total of the Rockies and Coors Field, becoming the first ‘net zero water’ MLB venue in the league’s history.
In addition, Coors Field received the first-ever ‘Net Zero Water Champion’ recognition from Green Sports Alliance as part of their new Play to Zero initiative, for balancing the entire water footprint of the 2021 season.
“MLB is committed to reducing our league’s water footprint and restoring watersheds that our sport thrives on,” said Paul Hanlon, Senior Director of Ballpark Operations and Sustainability for MLB. “We are excited to work with Change the Course and the Green Sports Alliance to support and incentivize water conservation across all 30 of our clubs and their communities.”
Play to Zero is working to move the sports industry to net-zero energy, net-zero water and net-zero waste by improving environmental performance, supporting community efforts and engaging fans to act. The initiative has been developed in collaboration with Arc, a technology company owned by Green Business Certification Inc. Supporting launch partners include MLB and its 30 clubs, the National Hockey League (NHL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Soccer (MLS), the Pacific-12 Conference, SoFi Stadium, Hollywood Park and Lumen Field.
“The Colorado River, the lifeblood of the West, is experiencing drought conditions we have never before witnessed, and we are pleased that the Green Sports Alliance is mobilizing the sports industry to act with urgency,” said Sara Hoversten, Director of Change the Course and Business for Water Stewardship for BEF.
“In balancing the water footprint of the season and supporting water restoration on the Colorado River, MLB and the Rockies are demonstrating their understanding of the necessity of healthy, flowing rivers for our communities. We hope to see more teams, leagues and their fans joining in support of our water resources now and into the future.”
The partnership is encouraging baseball fans and all individuals to join the fight for Colorado’s water resources by:
- Decreasing your personal water footprint with simple everyday actions
- Joining the Rockies by living a net-zero lifestyle by balancing your personal water use
- Learning more about Colorado Water Trust and how you can help restore flows to Colorado’s rivers
To learn more about MLB’s commitment to environmental stewardship, please visit MLB.com/green. MLB is a Founding Supporter of Beyond Sport.
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