Living Rivers promotes river restoration through mobilization. By articulating conservation and alternative management strategies to the public, we seek to revive the natural habitat and spirit of rivers by undoing the extensive damage done by dams, diversions and pollution on the Colorado Plateau. Our work is funded entirely by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations. Living Rivers is recognized as a charitable/educational organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Code. According to the law, donations are tax-deductible. Donate today to support the conservation of our rivers!
- Barry Lopez
- Jacques Cousteau
- Tom Robbins
The Colorado River Basin Project aims to comprehensively develop water resources in both the upper and lower Colorado River basins. Authorized for various purposes, including flood control, navigation enhancement, and water storage and delivery, the project addresses diverse needs such as land reclamation, municipal water supplies, and industrial usage. Additionally, it endeavors to enhance water quality, promote outdoor recreation, improve wildlife habitats, and even generate electricity, making it a multifaceted initiative crucial for the sustainable management of the Colorado River.
Forty years ago, a major public outcry succeeded in stopping the construction of two major dams, which would have inundated Grand Canyon National Park. The famed Colorado River and its unique desert ecosystem would be preserved—or so it was thought.
Unknown to many, a less noticeable but nonetheless lethal blow had already been delivered. The 1963 completion of Glen Canyon Dam, upstream and just outside the park, was beginning to unleash a current of devastation, which now, four decades and numerous violations of federal laws later, has nearly destroyed all the native habitat of Grand Canyon’s famed river corridor.
But it’s not too late to save the Grand Canyon again!
It's not a matter of if, but when, the Colorado River plumbing system will collapse. Water supply and power generation for metropolitan areas from Los Angeles to Denver will be affected, as will the region's multi-billion-dollar agricultural industry. The sixty million acre-feet of water that can be stored in the basin's reservoirs provide a cushion in times of moderate reductions in river flows, but as is presently being experienced, they are no match for a sustained drought. Learn more by clicking the button below!
Check out our sponsored projects by clicking on the links below. Want to help us make a difference? Donate to Living Rivers Colorado Riverkeeper today!
February 7, 2024
LR in the News
December 11, 2023
LR Testimony
November 27, 2023
Media Advisory
November 3, 2023
LR Letter
You can support our river restoration projects by donating conveniently through the PayPal button below, sending a check via mail, or giving thorough estate planning options. Our federal identification number is 87-066-8658. If you are directing your donation to one of our fiscally sponsored projects, please make the check payable to Living Rivers and specify the project's name in the memo line. Your generosity ensures the continuation of vital conservation efforts along the Colorado River and its ecosystems. Thank you!
Living Rivers Colorado Riverkeepers stands as a beloved nonprofit due to its unwavering dedication to environmental stewardship. As a nonprofit organization, we prioritize ecological preservation, ensuring the longevity of the Colorado River and its surrounding ecosystems. Through our nonprofit initiatives, we inspire communities to actively engage in conservation efforts, fostering a sense of collective responsibility. With nonprofit support, we implement impactful projects aimed at restoring river health, preserving biodiversity, and advocating for sustainable water management practices. Your involvement with our nonprofit empowers us to continue our vital mission, protecting the natural wonders of the Colorado River basin.
For decades, economic interests and political alliances have overshadowed rational watershed planning in the West. The result is a vast plumbing system of dams and diversions causing significant environmental damage and struggling to meet increasing water demands. National headlines frequently feature stories of rivers running dry and conflicts between environmentalists and farmers due to insufficient water allocation.
Living Rivers pioneers a new approach to watershed advocacy, emphasizing conservation over waste. Unlike traditional agencies focused on maximizing water extraction, Living Rivers promotes strategies for large-scale river restoration. By engaging communities across the Colorado and Rio Grande River watersheds, Living Rivers builds popular support for conservation initiatives and pressures water agencies to embrace solutions that balance human needs with preserving river ecosystems.
Living Rivers advocates for readily available yet underutilized solutions such as municipal water conservation, recycling, and irrigation efficiency improvements. Additionally, it emphasizes changes in cropping patterns and highlights the ecological damage caused by hydroelectric power generation. Despite the feasibility and economic benefits of these approaches, they face opposition from entrenched special interests, hindering their widespread implementation.
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Email: info@livingrivers.org
Phone: (435) 259-1063
Fax: (435) 259-7612
Address:
P.O. Box 466
Moab, UT 84532
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