Western Rivers
Colorado’s environment, communities, and economies depend on healthy, flowing rivers, but increasing demand, climate change, and inflexible management are putting rivers at risk. Many of the birds that depend on them, like the Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Bell’s Vireo, are in decline, and the future of the communities and economies surrounding Western rivers is uncertain. Help us as we rise to this historic challenge to create healthier Colorado rivers and wetlands for birds, wildlife, and people.
Audubon is making an impact on Coloradan rivers and the birds and people that depend on them. Together we can advocate for bird conservation and water conservation actions that will increase river flow, enhance the health of our environment, and restore valuable wetlands and riparian habitats. Audubon Rockies' Western Rivers Initiative is rooted in finding collaborative water solutions for the environment and people by using science, and allowing science to guide policy and on-the-ground bird conservation efforts.
Science. Science is the keystone of Audubon’s action for rivers and the birds that depend on them. The best available data amplify and direct our education, policy, and on-the-ground work.
Policy. Policy efforts are guided by science and fulfilled by Audubon’s Western Water Action Network (WWAN). WWAN is a grassroots water and river advocacy network operating at local, state, and federal levels. WWAN is built on the foundation of strong state chapters while welcoming all who care about rivers and riparian habitat. Since 2013, WWAN has proven to be an influential water policy leader across the Colorado River Basin. WWAN has significantly grown due to proven policy successes.
On-the-ground Work. The health of each river and wetland contributes to the ecological functioning of the watershed. Audubon Rockies actively supports riparian and wetland restoration projects across Colorado. Targeted riparian and wetland restoration projects attempt to prepare aquatic systems for an uncertain hydrologic future by focusing on restoring ecological functions and environmental resiliency.
Help us as we rise to this historic challenge to create healthier Coloradan rivers for birds, wildlife, and people.
As a headwaters state, the value of Colorado’s rivers flows far beyond its boundaries. Healthy, flowing rivers support all water uses and users–both wildlife and people. Protecting rivers protects our economy, our birds, their habitats, and our ways of life. When we invest in the health of Colorado’s watersheds and rivers, we invest in our resilience to climate change.
In May 2013, Colorado Governor Hickenlooper directed the state to draft the Colorado Water Plan in order to provide a direction for water resource use in the coming decades. The plan aims to ensure a sufficient supply of water for the various users across the state, including environmental agricultural, municipal, industrial, and recreational needs.
The Water Plan Update process began shortly after Governor Polis took office in 2019. In his term, Governor Polis has made water one of his top priorities and advanced many efforts in the state to protect our water supply.
Water supply forecasts are concerning, and coupled with rapid population growth, put Colorado’s rivers and water supply at risk. Our water leaders need to take immediate steps to avoid the very real possibility of water shortages for both people and the environment. That’s why Audubon Rockies has been engaged in every step of Colorado's Water Plan—from drafting, to finalization in 2015, implementation, and its inaugural update completed in 2023.
The 2015 Colorado Water Plan sparked the state’s largest civic engagement to date and the Colorado Water Conservation Board received more than 30,000 public comments on priorities and direction for the plan. Audubon’s network provided nearly 20 percent of the general comments received, and Audubon staff provided technical environmental resilience and stream ecology language.
During the Colorado Water Plan update public comment period in 2022, Audubon Rockies collected more than 3,400 unique petition signatures and 440 free responses from the Audubon network to support the protection of Colorado’s rivers, ecosystems, and sustainable water supplies. When asked what a strong water plan meant to them, Audubon member Aubin of Littleton stated:
“A strong water plan means plants, animals, and people are all taken into account. The ecosystem services provided by clean water in the West is incalculable, and should be treated as such. Let’s support sustained water quality and water resiliency. As any westerner will tell you, water is precious and should be protected from harm and overconsumption. Our western livelihoods and ways of life depend on our water system being sustainable, resilient and dependable; a tall order for an increasingly dynamic climate. I believe we can achieve this goal if we give the same respect and importance to the natural systems upon which we depend.”
The 2023 Colorado Water Plan will direct water management for the next ten years. Creating resilience to impacts in our watershed advances our efforts in preparing for an uncertain water future. Audubon Rockies, along with its partners, worked closely with the CWCB to ensure the 2023 Plan meets the needs of all Coloradans. One of the many wins in the 2023 Plan is the inclusion of natural storage and nature-based solutions, and the many benefits it provides to all water users and the environment.
We are committed to protecting the health of Colorado’s rivers, ecosystems, and sustainable water supplies—values that benefit everyone. We are working across water interests to show that water connects rather than separates us. Together we can protect Colorado’s incredible rivers.
Explore the resources on this page to learn more about river health and conservation.
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