|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
The Colorado River is blockaded by more than 30 dams, irrigates over 3 million acres and serves the water needs of more that 30 million people in the U.S. and Mexico. In the last few decades dramatic population increases in the West have resulted in unprecedented human demand for water. This—combined with regional drought (now in its ninth year) and other climate change impacts—is causing obvious concern for the health of the river.
On May 7th, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar awarded representatives of The Nature Conservancy, Defenders of Wildlife, National Wildlife Federation, Pacific Institute, Sierra Club, Sonoran Institute, and others with the Department of the Interior’s prestigious Partners in Conservation award, which recognizes significant conservation achievements made possible through partnering among diverse entities. This year’s award honors the achievement of these organizations, the Colorado River basin states, Native American tribes, and other stakeholders for developing innovative strategies to manage Colorado River shortages, injecting flexibility into river management, improving the efficiency of water use and also for turning these strategies into a clear set of guidelines. The final agreement was the culmination of several years of hard work, negotiation and collaboration.
Taking Action Now to Ensure Water Later
In developing the guidelines the Conservancy worked closely with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and other organizations to craft and refine a Colorado River management proposal known as “Conservation Before Shortage.” Elements of that proposal were included in the Bureau of Reclamation’s final guidelines.
“Developing shortage guidelines broke new ground for assessing our capability to adapt large-scale water management in response to climate change in the Colorado River Basin,” said Robert Wigington, western water policy counsel for The Nature Conservancy based in Boulder. “We are encouraged by the Bureau of Reclamation’s leadership on climate change and their dedication to developing a transparent water management support system that will enable much greater collaboration during the difficult times still looming for the Colorado River.”
Average flows for the river are 3 million cubic feet less than the amount allocated to human demands in The Colorado River Compact of 1922. As a result, access to a limited supply of water has been at the heart of conflict over the Colorado River.
A System-Wide Strategy
The Conservancy is engaged in on-the-ground projects throughout the Colorado River Basin—21 river related projects from the headwaters to the sea in the U.S. and Mexico—to restore native fish and streamside vegetation, to control non-native vegetation, to improve flow patterns and to protect river, spring and floodplain habitats.
Building upon decades of work in the region, the Conservancy has created a system-wide conservation strategy for the Colorado River Basin. The strategy combines on-the-ground conservation action in 35 sites with cross-cutting policy and project work addressing issues such as water use and rights, climate change and ecosystem services valuation. Key strategies include flow restoration, invasive species removal and protection, and restoration of riparian areas.
Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Bill Grindle/TNC (Fall colors along the Colorado River near Glenwood Springs); Photo © Tom Till/www.tomtill.com (Colorado River from Moab Rim Trail in Utah).
Join The Nature Conservancy on