Preserving the Incredible Wildlife of the Colorado River Basin
In this new video, discover the vast array of wildlife that depend on the Colorado River for their survival.
The story of climate change across the western United States is being written in water, especially within the Colorado River Basin. For every 1-degree Fahrenheit increase, we are experiencing a 3-9% reduction in river flows. Less precipitation, thirstier soils, and a drier atmosphere leads to more evaporation, which accounts for much of the reduction in flow. The problem is exacerbated by the ever-increasing demands on the river.
The Colorado River provides food, drinking water, power, recreation and is indispensable to the lives of tens of millions of people and a vast array of biodiversity. We know that in order to sustain this river, we must develop solutions to address the effects of climate change and the overallocation of water, and we also know that we can’t forget about the many plants and animals that call the river home and depend on its health to thrive.
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Who depends on the river?
Razorback Sucker: The Razorback Sucker is one of four threatened or endangered fish species who call the Colorado River home. © Linda Whitham/TNC
Migratory Birds: The basin provides critical migration pit stops for birds including sandhill cranes, warblers, osprey, bald eagles, and the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher. © Hannah Floyd
Large mammals: Large mammals such as moose, elk, deer, bears and big horn sheep rely on water from the river. © John Finnell
People: In addition to a vast array of biodiversity, the Colorado River provides food, water, power, recreation and is indispensable to the lives of tens of millions of people. © Rick Triana Photography
The river and its tributaries support an array of fish populations including four threatened or endangered fish species. It also provides critical stopover points in the lower part of the Basin for a myriad of migratory and resident birds including sandhill cranes, warblers, osprey, bald eagles, and the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher. Large mammals such as moose, elk, deer, bears and big horn sheep also rely on rivers in the arid Rockies and Southwest. TNC has identified more than 150 threatened species that depend on the Colorado River for their survival.
This diversity of wildlife represents the wonders of the region and the Western landscape. That wildlife requires rivers and lakes and suitable habitat to survive. The river we all depend on is depending on us to find a sustainable future for both people and nature.
Continue learning
Maybell Project Restores Hope for Irrigators and Endangered Fish
The Colorado River, for all its complex policies and deep-rooted history, represents a contemporary conundrum: too much demand and too little water.
Endangered Fish Recovery Program
Working to restore the four federally listed endangered fish species in the upper basin: humpback chub, bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker.
Charting a Future for the Colorado River
The Colorado River Basin—which supplies 80% of the water that Coloradans use—is ground zero for climate change in the United States. Learn how Colorado can help improve water security.