Bureau of Reclamation Announces Plans on Colorado River Restoration in New Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s (BoR) Moving Forward report released yesterday offers recommendations and opportunities to address long-term water supply and demand challenges facing the Colorado River. The National Audubon Society will be working in tandem with other Colorado River stakeholders to implement the plans outlined in the report.

“The Moving Forward report offers commonsense solutions for everyone involved. It’s not a secret that both people and wildlife need water to survive. Taking action to restore and conserve the Colorado River Basin means that not only will birds like the western Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher benefit, but so will the people whose livelihoods depend on a healthy ecosystem,” said Karyn Stockdale, senior advisor of the National Audubon Society. “Local economies benefit to the tune of $26 billion each year from birding and other outdoor recreational activities, so let’s move forward and restore this river.”

The conservation and efficiency measures represent a broad spectrum of stakeholders from the urban, rural, business, environmental, industrial and agricultural sectors, which must now work together to avoid a potential supply shortage and support a healthy river basin. Specific plans include supporting strong funding for federal programs to invest in on-the-ground solutions like groundwater recharge projects, water infrastructure improvements, more efficient irrigation systems, and habitat restoration in order to secure a sustainable future for the people and birds of the West.

“Investing in conservation with dedicated federal dollars to programs like BoR’s WaterSMART grants and important Farm Bill conservation programs in these western states will enhance the Colorado River and provide an investment in our communities,” said Brian Moore, legislative director for Audubon. “Audubon is working collaboratively with several federal agencies to secure a funding commitment from policymakers that benefits all water users in the Basin.”

In 2013, Audubon launched the Western Rivers Action Network to advocate for conservation actions that will increase river flow, enhance the health of the environment and restore valuable wetland and forest habitat for birds throughout the Colorado River Basin.

The National Audubon Society saves birds and their habitats throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon's state programs, nature centers, chapters and partners have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire and unite diverse communities in conservation action. Since 1905, Audubon's vision has been a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Audubon is a nonprofit conservation organization. Learn more at www.audubon.org and @audubonsociety.

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Contact: Nicolas Gonzalez, ngonzalez@audubon.org, 212-979-3068