Water is life. But as our climate continues to warm, our states may be facing a future without water. The region’s water future is still in our hands, but not for long.
Drought By the Numbers
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1,200
The past two decades have been the driest or the second driest in the last 1,200 years in the West.
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98%
Nearly 98% of land across 11 Western states is abnormally dry—the worst levels in the U.S. Drought Monitor’s 21-year history.
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2021
Lake Mead, the reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, hit its lowest water level since 1937.
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$4.5B
Last year drought cost the U.S. $4.5 billion and the dry conditions exacerbated a record wildfire season that cost an additional $16.5 billion.
Where does your water come from? You might be surprised to learn how far water travels to get to your tap. In many cases, that distance is increasing in the face of drought. Even with winter rains, drought persists in our region, so the Nature Conservancy’s Western chapters are working together to build a more sustainable water future for our home. Keep reading to learn about the water solutions we’re developing across the West.
In the West, we are all connected by water. It grows our food, creates our electricity, and keeps us alive. But if nature doesn’t get the water it needs, it’s only a matter of time until we don’t either. The Nature Conservancy is working across the West to save water for people and nature, and protect the ecosystems we all rely on.
The Colorado River Basin
Most people know the Colorado River for its iconic landscapes and as the river that runs through the Grand Canyon, but the Colorado is a lifeline for much of the West. The river and all its tributaries provide drinking water for more than 40 million people in the U.S. and Mexico.
The Colorado supports 30 Tribal Nations, irrigates over five million acres of agricultural land, and generates roughly nine billion kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power each year—enough for over seven million people. But while critical for people, the rivers and streams of the Colorado River Basin are also essential for wildlife. TNC works hard to make sure that nature has a seat at the table in policy and water management forums.
Quote: Taylor Hawes
Water issues are complex and require partnership and collaboration. TNC has worked in the Colorado River Basin for 20 years and appreciates the critical importance of partnerships in charting a sustainable and resilient future.
Today, the Colorado River is at a crossroads. For the last two decades, a mega-drought has lowered the basin’s major reservoirs to a fraction of their original size, while demand for water increasingly surpasses supply. This is the story of climate change written in water. Droughts are part of the West’s normal cycle, but climate change has intensified the impacts. After decades of intensifying drought, we must help nature and people prepare for a new “normal.”
Nature is first to bear the brunt of water losses in the Colorado River Basin. Low water levels kill fish and accelerate the spread of invasive species, while habitat for endemic species shrinks. Water managers have tried to stabilize the system through agreements between the seven-basin states and Mexico, but these efforts are not enough. TNC is expanding and accelerating our work across sectors and borders to build a sustainable future driven by collaboration and not conflict.
Our Strategy
From the Experts
Quote: Sandi Matsumoto
The drought affects us all. Our approach to water management must include the species and natural systems that make our water, our air, our food, and our existence possible.
Quote: Neil Crescenti
We’re seeing the impacts of climate change across the state and we anticipate that Idaho’s water supplies will continue to fluctuate in future years. We all need to be part of the solutions for better use and management of water.
Quote: Jennifer Lamb
Our approach is to sit down at the table with water users, roll up our sleeves and say how can we meet your needs while also sustaining healthy river flows?
Quote: Nathan Korb
We may not control how much water nature provides, but there is plenty we can do to steward it well. Success will require give and take on everyone’s part. The waters we love and need are worth it.
Quote: Sue Bellagamba
The story of climate change will be written in water, which is now a defining issue for all Utahns. Everyone is now working together—the risks to people and nature are too great to do otherwise.
Quote: Zach Freed
Drought damages our most biodiverse ecosystems, reduces access to safe drinking water, and hurts the economy. We need to deal with water shortages now so we can prepare for a climate future that has less supply and more demand.
Quote: Diana Lane
Climate change is robbing our Colorado rivers of healthy flows. We need creative collaboration across all water users to sustain people and nature.
Quote: Laurel Saito
We are studying the stressors and threats to our groundwater-dependent ecosystems to understand how best to ensure their long-term sustainability for people and for nature.
Here’s What You Can do to Help
- More than 50 percent of a family’s water use is for landscaping. Consider low water use options, including less turf grass.
- Low flow plumbing fixtures can reduce water use by 30 percent in a household.
- Know where your water comes from – it might be your favorite trout fishing stream or place to hike or the groundwater beneath your feet!
- Support organizations like TNC that are working to protect water sources for nature and people.
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