Western Water

Audubon's work to protect people and birds in the arid West.

In the American West, water is life—for people, and for nature. Birds tell us there are essential freshwater-dependent habitats throughout the West—these include the rivers of the Colorado River Basin; Great Salt Lake, Salton Sea, and dozens of other saline lakes; the Rio Grande; as well as tributaries, wetlands, and groundwater connections to essential waterways. But climate change is intensifying droughts, jeopardizing urban and rural community viability and eroding habitat health. The West’s declining water supplies threaten to exacerbate problems created through inequitable access to water—for both the environment and tribal communities—resulting from a legal framework designed more than 100 years ago.

Audubon’s Western Water team, with dedicated staff in key western states and Washington D.C., works to align bird habitat protection and restoration with more reliable water supplies for all communities, while addressing historic injustices. These include disproportionate health impacts associated with water issues at the Salton Sea in California, desiccation of the Colorado River Delta ecosystem in Mexico, and lack of water infrastructure and access to drinking water in many tribal communities. With drought conditions persisting into a third decade and climate change increasingly affecting water supplies and habitat in the West, we see unprecedented urgency for inclusive and equitable solutions that avoid catastrophic water shortages. Audubon advocates for policies, funding, and on-the-ground actions to protect and restore healthy rivers and lakes, for every living thing that depends on them.

Audubon envisions a livable and equitable future in the West. We strive for resilient rivers, wetlands, and lakes that sustain water reliability, and can support birds and people.

 

Western Water News

Western Water News

New Mexico Creates Conservation Fund to Protect Rivers, Wildlife, and More

By Judy Calman
March 28, 2023 — The historic trust will bring in more funds and promote climate resilience.
Western Water News

Who gets harmed as the Colorado River changes?

By Jennifer Pitt
March 09, 2023 — Negative impacts of water shortages will be vast.
Western Water News

Ripple Effect: Migratory Birds and Long-term Drought in the West

By National Audubon Society
February 15, 2023 — Audubon experts publish article in Water Resources Impact magazine.

Our Western Water Staff

Karyn Stockdale

Karyn Stockdale

Western Water Initiative Senior Director

Jennifer Pitt

Jennifer Pitt

Colorado River Program Director

Marcelle Shoop

Marcelle Shoop

Saline Lakes Program Director

Joey Kahn

Joey Kahn

Communications Director, Water Conservation

Julie Hill-Gabriel

Julie Hill-Gabriel

Vice President, Water Conservation

Our Work in the Colorado River Basin

Western Water News

The Economic Impact of Arizona's Rivers, Lakes, and Streams

How water-based outdoor recreation contributes to statewide and local economies.
Conservation

Amid a Drought Crisis, the Colorado River Delta Sprang to Life This Summer

Thanks to a historic U.S.-Mexico binational agreement, water flowing this year is providing hope for the future of a key ecosystem.
Western Water News

Bird Abundance and Diversity Increase in Colorado River Delta after Pulse Flow

Science Assessment Concludes U.S.-Mexico Colorado River Agreement Positive for Birds, the Environment, and the River

Our Work on Saline Lakes

Western Water News

(UPDATE) U.S. House of Representatives Passes Audubon-supported Saline Lake Ecosystems Bill

The bill provides for a coordinated scientific effort to inform effective management and conservation of Saline Lake habitats in the arid West.
White-faced Ibis. Warren-Martin Hern/Audubon Photography Awards
Western Water News

Land Transfer Secures Nevada Bird and Wildlife Habitat

Long-awaited Transfer of Carson Lake and Pasture to the State of Nevada Gives Birds a Boost
Western Water News

Audubon's Frank Ruiz Testifies Before Congress on Salton Sea Bill

HR 3877 would allow expanded federal participation in Salton Sea restoration efforts
Gila River. Daily Overview, Satellite Imagery © DigitalGlobe
Birds and Water in the West

Water and Birds in the Arid West: Habitats in Decline

A brief overview of Audubon's report on creating a sustainable water future for birds and people in the American West.

Birds That Depend on Water Resources in the Arid West