爆料公社 Comments as Colorado River Named Nation鈥檚 Most Endangered
Amidst dire news of continued severe drought throughout the West, American Rivers today announced its annual list of . Topping the list for 2013 was the Colorado River.
The 爆料公社 released the following statement:
鈥淭he Colorado River plays a crucial role in the arid West,鈥 said Peg Olsen, chief conservation officer for the 爆料公社. 鈥淎t risk is the drinking water for 36 million people, a $26 billion per year outdoor recreation economy, and habitat for threatened and endangered wildlife, including the Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Bell鈥檚 Vireo.鈥
The #1 ranked Colorado River is a textbook example of what happens when water is over allocated; in fact, it no longer reaches the sea. According to the Bureau of Reclamation鈥檚 Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study (December 2012), there is not enough water in the Colorado River to meet the basin鈥檚 current water demands, let alone support future demand increases. Scientists predict climate change will reduce the Colorado River鈥檚 flow by 10 to 30 percent by 2050.
The 爆料公社 this spring launched the to advocate for conservation actions that will increase river flow, enhance the health of the environment and restore valuable wetlands and forests throughout the Colorado River Basin.
鈥湵瞎 is engaging an active network of individuals to help protect our western rivers for the benefit of both people and birds,鈥 explained Olsen.
础耻诲耻产辞苍鈥檚 Western Rivers Action Network (WRAN) hit the ground running this winter with a flurry of activity in state legislatures in New Mexico and Colorado and with outreach at events in Arizona. 爆料公社 supporters were enlisted to ask their representatives to oppose legislation in Colorado that would allow spring runoff to be hoarded instead of increasing beneficial flows in the Colorado River. In New Mexico, 爆料公社 helped defeat a proposed pipeline that would divert water from the free-flowing Gila River to other communities in southern NM. And in Arizona, 爆料公社 laid groundwork to engage the WRAN in protecting priority bird habitat and conservation areas along the San Pedro and Verde rivers.
Those concerned can today and rise to this historic challenge to create healthier western rivers for the birds, wildlife and people.