Karyn Stockdale is Senior Director of Audubon’s Western Water Initiative working to address precipitous declines in water across the arid West—with a focus on the Colorado River and saline lakes. Karyn leads innovative conservation efforts - from public policy to restoration - to help decision-makers adapt to diminishing water supplies with improved policies and increased investments in climate resilient strategies.

Karyn believes we must adopt new and better ways to interact with and restore the natural world around us, recognizing all that it provides communities, birds, and wildlife in the face of the intensifying reality and stresses of our warming climate. She believes that nature also has the power to heal us. Through social services work early in her career, Karyn learned the importance of inclusive and equitable access to wild places, and this continues to influence her view that we need strategies and solutions premised on equity for people—which is critical to positive outcomes for nature. As we are currently experiencing severe, climate change-related drought conditions and impacts to our water supplies, Karyn sees it is time to address the history of water development in the West, and how its systemic inequities denied some communities access to water as well as water for nature.

Karyn oversees a multi-departmental Audubon team to address Colorado River basin water shortages and apply these lessons to other river basins, to scale up restoration projects in the Colorado River Delta and at the Salton Sea, and to conserve saline lakes—including Great Salt Lake—essential to birds across the West. Her work spans across Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming and northwestern Mexico.

Karyn joined Audubon in 2007 as Vice President, Executive Director of Audubon New Mexico. Prior to Audubon, Karyn worked for the Trust for Public Land on the protection of open space, cultural and historic sites, and environmentally sensitive lands, with a focus on the Rio Grande.

Karyn works to live in line with her core values. Besides sticking her neck out for what she believes is right, Karyn is raising two teenagers, settling back in Colorado, and striving for more time outdoors— and sometimes she wishes she would have been a field biologist.

Articles by Karyn Stockdale

A wilson's phalarope on water.
Western Water News

Utah’s Wet Winter Gives Some Reprieve to Great Salt Lake

By Karyn Stockdale
April 27, 2023 — But long-term water conservation solutions and secure water are still needed.
Western Water News

As Water Levels Plummeted to Historic Lows across the West in 2022, Urgency for Audubon to Protect People and Birds

By Karyn Stockdale
December 19, 2022 — Facing challenges head on this year: dedicated water, dollars, and improved policies.
Western Water News

How We Might Address the Water Crisis for the Colorado River and Birds in the West

By Karyn Stockdale
July 28, 2022 — Solutions exist but need to be scaled up for the next year and beyond.
Western Water News

Ring the Alarm: Today’s Water Crisis Isn’t a Fire Drill

By Karyn Stockdale
June 28, 2022 — Why Audubon’s work in the West is more important than ever.
Western Water News

Amid a Drought Crisis, Inspiration from Our Work in Western Water for Birds and People

By Karyn Stockdale
December 13, 2021 — In 2021, Audubon led the way in protecting rivers, lakes, and bird habitat in the West.
American White Pelican. Joanne Wuori/Audubon Photography Awards
Western Water News

The West Urgently Needs Federal Funds to Address Drought, Wildfire, and Climate Change

By Karyn Stockdale
September 25, 2021 — With big spending bills on the horizon, Congress needs to prioritize water security for people and birds.
Climate Change

The Entire Colorado River Basin is in Crisis

By Karyn Stockdale
September 20, 2021 — We need climate action, now.
Great Blue Heron.
Western Water News

Drought? This Is What Climate Change Looks like in the West

By Karyn Stockdale
August 24, 2021 — A personal take on Audubon’s work to make the arid West more livable for people and birds.
Western Water News

The Entire Colorado River Basin is in Crisis

By Karyn Stockdale
July 16, 2021 — We need climate action, now.
Western Water News

Critical Habitat Finally Designated for Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo

By Karyn Stockdale
April 23, 2021 — Although smaller area designated, Audubon encouraged by final rule.