Charting a future for the Colorado River
The Colorado River Basin is in uncharted territory. How can we come together to build resilience in a hotter and drier future?
The Colorado River Basin—which supplies 80% of the water that Coloradans use—is ground zero for climate change in the United States. The Southwest is seeing a historic mega-drought and the Colorado River's flows have declined by 20% over the last century. Looking ahead, scientists predict that the river's flows could shrink by as much as 31% by 2050.
Water levels in Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the two major reservoirs that store the Colorado River’s water, are down to 34% of their capacity.
We are feeling the effects of climate change today, in our own backyards. In the summer of 2021, the Bureau of Reclamation declared a Tier 1 water shortage for the first time, triggering mandatory water cutbacks for Arizona, Nevada and Mexico in 2022. This poses a huge threat to water supplies for the people, agriculture, and businesses that depend on this river, as well as the fish and wildlife.
The good news is there are things we can do to help the Colorado River Basin. These strategies include reducing water use, modernizing infrastructure, improving forest health, utilizing natural landscapes to minimize flood damage and purify and store water, and improving stream and river health. We need to invest in solutions that will not only help us better manage our water supplies in the short term, but also build climate resilience in the long term.
How can Colorado help improve water security?
With more than 20 years of experience in the Colorado River Basin, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) knows first-hand how important partnerships and collaboration are in charting a sustainable and resilient future.
Together, we have addressed water challenges across Colorado, such as helping create the Yampa River Fund, upgrading irrigation infrastructure on one of the largest water diversions on the Yampa River and partnering with local water utilities on forest restoration in the South Platte watershed. We're working with farmers and ranchers across the state to creatively manage water to handle shortages and test crops that have the potential to deliver economic returns, withstand drought and use less water. We're also partnering with Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities to co-create solutions for water that advance their voice, choice and actions.
Five things you can do for the Colorado River:
1. Know where your water comes from.
Water has to travel surprisingly far to reach your faucet. If you’re reading this, the chances are that some (or all!) of your water comes from the Colorado River.
2. Use less water—every drop counts!
Use water-saving devices and reduce your outdoor water use in the summer. Need other ideas?
- Shorten your shower by two minutes and you’ll save up to 150 gallons per month.
- Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save up to 150 gallons per month.
- Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full and save up to 200 gallons a month.
- Fix that leaky faucet or running toilet and save up to 300 gallons per month.
- Use native and drought-tolerant plants to landscape your home and water them in the early morning or evening to reduce evaporation. Water-wise landscaping can greatly reduce water use—and lower your water bill.
3. Choose your food wisely.
Consider buying food grown locally and sustainably, using water-efficient practices.
4. Support organizations that protect our rivers.
Learn more about organizations like The Nature Conservancy that protect and restore our rivers.
5. Encourage friends and family to take action!
Share what you learn with those around you. Inspire others to care for our lands and rivers, explore the outdoors and try new adventures like rafting, fishing and hiking.
Support the Colorado River
Give to TNC and help us drive conservation throughout the basin.
Donate todayLearn through listening
We've partnered with the Mountain & Prairie podcast to bring you exclusive conservation stories, updates, advice and more from TNC leaders and host Ed Roberson. Listen to one of our Colorado River-themed episodes below!
Navigating the Next Era of the Basin
Latest episode
July 2025 | Celene Hawkins is the new Colorado River Program Director for The Nature Conservancy, stepping into the role after years of impactful work in Tribal water policy and place-based conservation across the basin. She’s taking the baton from Taylor Hawes, who led the program for nearly 17 years.
Rivers, Agriculture and Communities
November 2023 | Water experts Diana Lane and Aaron Derwingson join Ed Roberson to discuss some of Colorado's most urgent water-related challenges and opportunities and how TNC is working with a wide range of stakeholders to find mutually beneficial solutions.
Solving Challenges with Tribal Wisdom
July 2023 | Discover how Lorelei Cloud, vice chair of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, trustee for TNC Colorado and the first-ever Tribal member on the Colorado Water Conservation Board, is applying her expertise to complex challenges in the basin.
Simple Approach to Riparian Restoration
Do you like beavers? Well, then, you'll enjoy this episode. Discover how TNC experts are improving our streams in the West by adding simple structures made of natural materials to simulate processes like beaver dams in streams and wetlands.
Innovation in the Basin
March 2023 | Taylor Hawes, TNC's Colorado River program director, provides background on the river basin’s challenges and how TNC is working to solve these problems by building community support, working collaboratively with Tribal Nations and helping agricultural producers become more efficient.
Building Trust w/Indigenous Communities
Celene Hawkins, Tribal Water Partnerships Program director at The Nature Conservancy’s Colorado River Program, and Izabella Ruffino, Tribal and Indigenous Engagement Program manager at TNC in Colorado, join Ed to discuss building trust and solid relationships, recent collaborations with Tribal Nations and recommended resources for deeper learning.
View all episodes
On the fourth Tuesday of every month, the Mountain & Prairie podcast brings you conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy’s leaders, partners and collaborators, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities and solutions here in the West.
We must come together to create innovative, collaborative solutions that work for everyone—including farmers and ranchers, cities, Tribal Nations, outdoor recreation and industry. It’s that spirit that we must channel now more than ever to accelerate our efforts to build climate resilience in the Colorado River Basin.
