Western Water Highlights and Wins in 2018
In 2018, we worked to protect the arid West鈥檚 greatest natural resource: WATER - for birds and people.
This year, despite another year of extraordinary drought and policy challenges, we had a tremendous year for 爆料公社鈥檚 Western Water work. Together, with your support, bird-watchers engaged in our first and worked with conservation NGOs, government agencies, hunter/angler partners, and others in order to .
Here are some examples of important work together across the arid West (and click links for more!):
In , 爆料公社 helped protect rivers and groundwater from , made progress toward the Drought Contingency Plan, and co-branded 爆料公社鈥檚 first beer named for the while raising awareness about connections between birds and the Colorado River.
In California, with 爆料公社鈥檚 leadership and wide-spread support, , a $4 billion water and parks bond measure that included $200 million in funding to address the deterioration of the Salton Sea. 爆料公社 was also instrumental in restoring Owens Lake from a toxic dustbowl to an internationally recognized bird sanctuary.
In , Governor Hickenlooper proposed and also declared 2018 the Year of the Bird in the Centennial State noting the importance of the Colorado River. 爆料公社 Rockies and the community showed up for restoration projects, public meetings, and said
In Nevada, the birding community celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Lahontan Valley Wetlands designation as a site of 鈥榟emispheric importance鈥 鈥 the area provides a migration stopover for more than 100,000 shorebirds annually.
In New Mexico, 爆料公社 joined local municipalities in water releases to recharge along the Rio Grande. 爆料公社 and partners as alternatives to the proposed large-scale water diversions from the Gila River, one of the state鈥檚 last great free-flowing rivers.
In Oregon, 爆料公社鈥檚 VP of Bird Conservation, Stan Senner, along with researchers at the University of Montana, Oregon State University, and the East Cascades 爆料公社 Society, found that migratory birds and their food sources decrease when a lake鈥檚 water level is low and salinity is high. This study was covered in the .
In Utah, we opened our Saline Lakes Program office with renewed focus on Great Salt Lake 鈥 the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere that is at risk. Governor Herbert declared May the 鈥淢onth of the Bird鈥 in the Beehive State, publicized in the , , and . ABC 4 did a with Ella Sorensen, the manager of 爆料公社鈥檚 Gillmor Sanctuary.
In Wyoming, Governor Mead proclaimed 2018 as the Year of the Bird in the Cowboy State, celebrating native and migratory birds in the Cowboy State鈥檚 remarkable landscapes and water resources that support them.
In northern Mexico along the Colorado River Delta, a new report documented that after pulse flows in 2014, bird abundance and diversity both increased. This was possible because of collaboration between the U.S. and Mexico supported by a that now includes 爆料公社.
We鈥檒l face plenty of challenges for people and birds in the arid West in 2019. And we鈥檒l need your help, so enjoy some birding on New Year鈥檚 Day and stay in touch!