«Any plan to protect those who rely on the river must begin with the protection of the river itself.»

WASHINGTON, August 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ – The Bureau of Reclamation today released its latest study estimating projected water levels for the next two years in key reservoirs along the Colorado River. This month’s analysis projected that Lake Mead will be at elevations that require users of water in the lower basin to continue operating under scarce conditions. While Lake Powell has slightly recovered, the report shows that the Colorado River basin continues to suffer the effects of severe drought, exacerbated by climate change. There is still an urgent need for more concerted, innovative, and drastic water conservation and climate-resilient approaches to reduce water use.

Moira McDonald, Director of the Walton Family Foundation’s Environmental Program, issued the following statement in response:

«It is clear that we must rethink how we manage the Colorado River to continue supplying the 40 million people who depend on it. Warmer and drier conditions are the new normal in the Colorado River basin, and decades of taking more water from the river than it can provide have left it severely depleted. A wet winter, along with short-term agreements to reduce water use, has prevented the river from being on the brink of collapse. But we cannot continue doing just enough to move from one crisis to the next. Any lasting plan to protect communities that depend on the river must begin with the protection of the river itself.

That means investing in long-term nature-based solutions and water conservation efforts that match the scale of the problem. The good news is that we have solutions that work if we are willing to prioritize them. Projects that better manage forests by restoring wetlands and the connected grasslands offer many benefits. They create a healthier environment, limit the spread of wildfires, and absorb floodwaters. Recent efforts to create small, leaky temporary dams in strategic areas of the Colorado River also make river ecosystems more resilient to climate change. Applied at scale, these kinds of efforts can have a huge impact.

The Department of the Interior is developing new guidelines for the Colorado River. These plans will have an impact on river management for decades. It is crucial that these guidelines support nature-based projects. We need to focus on approaches that emphasize the long-term health of the river so it continues to flow for future generations. Prioritizing the needs of nature, along with the needs of communities, is the only path to long-term water security.»

About the Walton Family Foundation

The Walton Family Foundation is essentially a family-led foundation. Three generations of descendants of our founders, Sam and Helen Walton, and their spouses, work together to lead the foundation and create access to opportunities for people and communities. We work in three areas: improving K-12 education, protecting rivers and oceans and the communities they support, and investing in our home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta. For more information, visit www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org.

SOURCE Walton Family Foundation