How Mighty Partners Are Protecting Rivers and Drinking Water in the West
Whether your river flows beneath city bridges, through farms and ranchland, or through wild, remote canyons, every river is essential to our lives and livelihoods. Rivers are earth’s circulatory system: We simply can’t survive without them, especially here in the West.
Consider the following…
Rivers are the source of 2/3 of drinking water supplies in the U.S.
44 percent of waterways in the U.S. are too polluted for fishing and swimming.
Globally, we’ve lost 83 percent of freshwater species since 1970.
This is why safeguarding healthy rivers and streams is so important—for our own health and communities, and for the entire web of life. Climate change is making river conservation even more urgent and vital, as higher temperatures, floods and drought threaten rivers and water resources.
As we head into summer, we think it’s the perfect time to celebrate rivers and shine the spotlight on some of our incredible partners working to protect and restore rivers and clean water.
Here are three we hope you’ll follow and support:
Water & Tribes Initiative: The Colorado River provides water to more than 40 million people in two countries, seven states, and 29 federally recognized Native American tribes. The demand for water currently exceeds available supply in any given year and is complicated by chronic drought and the uncertainty of impacts from climate change. Combined, the tribes hold rights to roughly 20 percent (or 2.9 million-acre feet) of the water in the Colorado River basin. With the oldest water rights in the basin, the tribes are in a position to play a significant role in balancing water demand and supply and otherwise shaping the future of the region. The Water for Tribes Initiative is leading an important conversation about water rights, equity and management in the Colorado Basin. Learn more here.
American Whitewater: You don’t have to be a whitewater boater to love American Whitewater’s vision: “that our nation’s remaining wild and free-flowing rivers stay that way, our developed rivers are restored to function and flourish, that the public has access to rivers for recreation, and that river enthusiasts are active and effective river advocates.” In addition to their work in Colorado spearheading an economic impact study for the Cache la Poudre River Whitewater Park in Fort Collins to working with partners to secure recreational water rights in Glenwood Springs, American Whitewater works across the nation and continuing to build durable and unexpected partnerships to continue giving rural and urban communities alike more access to their local rivers—and creative tools to safeguard that river for generations to come. Read more about AW’s impact.
Freshwater Trust: The Freshwater Trust is dedicated to preserving and restoring freshwater ecosystems, and is laser-focused on using data to fix problems—whether around water quality, water quantity, or complying with environmental protection laws. For example, here in Colorado, the Freshwater Trust gathered and synthesized science and data in Pueblo County to help the community transition high-value water rights from agricultural to municipal use that secures a strong, resilient future for local farmers and delivers much needed drinking water for the community as a whole. Mighty Arrow is helping to replicate that project in Northern Colorado. Limited resources sometimes feel like limited options, but Freshwater Trust’s work helps us understand the impacts on communities, water resources and gives us the information we need to make the best decisions possible. Check them out.
We hope you’ll take some time to learn about these great organizations, and we hope you’ll find some time to get out and enjoy your rivers this summer!
