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

Building a Positive Water Future: Western Water Highlights in 2019
December 17, 2019 — By protecting water resources, Audubon worked to protect people and birds in the arid West.
Audubon’s New Climate Report and What it Means for Birds in the Arid West
October 22, 2019 — Fires and drought put increasing stress on western forests and the birds who live there.
A Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan Is in Place—Now What?
April 16, 2019 — Audubon charts a course for conservation on the Colorado River.
Western Water Highlights and Wins in 2018
December 21, 2018 — In 2018, we worked to protect the arid West’s greatest natural resource: WATER - for birds and people.
On Hope, Birds, and Tacos
December 03, 2018 — Touring the last great wetland of the Colorado River Delta.
The Threat of the West Running Dry
September 20, 2018 — Working together to sustain people and birds.