People

Karyn Stockdale

Western Water Initiative Senior Director

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 the network of 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 joined Audubon in 2007 as Vice President and 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. 

Today, 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. Karyn helps lead the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust, a partnership-based effort to advance projects and voluntary transactions to retain and enhance water flows to the lake and preserve wetlands with important hydrologic connections. Her work spans across Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming and northwestern Mexico.

Articles by Karyn Stockdale

Great Blue Heron.
Drought? This Is What Climate Change Looks like in the West
August 24, 2021 — A personal take on Audubon’s work to make the arid West more livable for people and birds.
The Entire Colorado River Basin is in Crisis
July 16, 2021 — We need climate action, now.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Johnny Stutzman/Audubon Photography Awards
Critical Habitat Finally Designated for Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo
April 23, 2021 — Although smaller area designated, Audubon encouraged by final rule.
Western Water in the New Year
January 27, 2021 — Moving forward with urgency for policies that are equitable and rooted in science.
Western Water en el Año Nuevo
January 26, 2021 — Avanzando con urgencia para políticas equitativas y arraigadas en la ciencia.
Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo Remains Federally Protected after Delisting Threat Falls Flat
September 25, 2020 — Another example of the Audubon network delivering a victory for birds.
El Cuclillo Pico Amarillo Permanece Protegido Federalmente Después de que Falla la Amenaza de Exclusión de la Lista
September 24, 2020 — Otro ejemplo de cómo la red Audubon ofrece una victoria para las aves.
Audubon “Wingspan” Weighs in on Colorado River Lake Powell Pipeline
September 09, 2020 — In an official letter to the Bureau of Reclamation, Audubon experts and 35 chapters demonstrate support for the No Action alternative.
Water Policy Wins in Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico before Coronavirus Closures
May 12, 2020 — Audubon backed 8 wins before many western legislative sessions ended early.
Audubon Calls for More Resources and Attention (not Less) for Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo
February 27, 2020 — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes 9% decrease in designated critical habitat.