SOLUTIONS

WATER

NEW RESEARCH

Data points to trust gap with agencies, willingness to adapt among producers

We asked more than 6,000 agricultural water users in the Colorado River Basin what they thought about the current situation, their use of and interest in conservation practices, and their preferences for how to address water shortages going forward. More than 1,000 responded. Explore the data and read our report on the findings.

DOWNLOAD REPORT

EXPLORE THE DATA

COVER co-river-basin-ag-water-users-survey (1)

WHAT'S AT STAKE

The West's water crisis is a challenge landowners are rising to, with the right support

The West is facing increasingly frequent and critical water shortages. Climate change, drought, fire, population growth and development are accelerating the challenge. These shortages, including diminishing surface waters and aquifers, pose an immediate and major risk to landowners.

At the same time, because landowners control much of the West’s water and the management of its watersheds, we are also key to finding and implementing solutions.

Yet, current policies disincentivize water conservation, water sharing and watershed stewardship. Though we are primary stakeholders, landowners often find we lack a voice in decision-making. Our input and participation hold the potential to make a significant and positive difference in outcomes.

NEED HELP?

PLACE-BASED COLLABORATIVES

HELP FINDING SUPPORT FOR WATERSHED RESTORATION

The water crisis in the Colorado River basin is big news, but watershed and wetland restoration practices that could make a big difference are underutilized across the basin. WLA currently has resources to directly assist place-based collaboratives and others to apply for funding and access the technical expertise needed to execute these projects at scale. If you have questions, needs or otherwise want to get involved, contact us!

LANDOWNERS

STAY ENGAGED ON THE ISSUES

Water has been and will increasingly be the single biggest challenge to the future of the West. WLA is working on water issues at all levels, from the soil surface and riverbed to the halls of power in state capitals and Washington, D.C.

Stay in the loop on workshops, field tours, news, updates and resources relating to this big challenge. Add your voice to our call for practical place-based solutions.

JOIN WLA

What landowners are already doing

Stewardship with Vision: David Spicer

See how David Spicer’s inspiring water stewardship has helped prevent a species from being listed as endangered in this Nevada desert valley.

Watch Film

Stewardship with Vision: Jeff Laszlo

Watch the immense transformation wrought on the Granger Ranches by Jeff Laszlo's commitment to restoring the wetland hydrology of O'Dell Creek in the Madison Valley of Montana.

Watch Film

Agua es Vida

This film begins up high in the Taos watershed and then takes us on a journey through the community of farmers and ranchers who depend on the acequias for their livelihood, and helps viewers understand acequias as a system of governance that, when well-attended and maintained, helps ensure a healthy community, healthy lands and sufficient water for all.

Watch Film

Dealing with megadrought in the West

A long dry time

Managing livestock through extended drought

The myth of efficiency

See all here

Water Resources

Funding Opportunities

Reach out for more information

Spring 2023 Funding Opportunities
Water resources coordinator, Monique DiGiorgio, compiles the latest funding opportunities, including:
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION’S WATERSMART PROGRAM
FARMER/RANCHER GRANT PROGRAM FROM WESTERN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION (SARE)
COLORADO WATERSHED RESTORATION PROGRAM
NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (NMDA) HEALTHY SOIL PROGRAM
BIOPHILIA FOUNDATION SOUTHWEST RESTORATION GRANTS
READ NOW

Publications

Download these guidance materials

SOLUTIONS

WATER

NEW RESEARCH

Data points to trust gap with agencies, willingness to adapt among producers

WHAT'S AT STAKE

The West's water crisis is a challenge landowners are rising to, with the right support

NEED HELP?

PLACE-BASED COLLABORATIVES

HELP FINDING SUPPORT FOR WATERSHED RESTORATION

LANDOWNERS

STAY ENGAGED ON THE ISSUES

What landowners are already doing

Stewardship with Vision: David Spicer

Stewardship with Vision: Jeff Laszlo

Agua es Vida

Dealing with megadrought in the West

Water Resources

Funding Opportunities

Spring 2023 Funding Opportunities

Publications

Agricultural Water Users’ Preferences for Addressing Water Shortages in the Colorado River Basin

2023 National Policy Platform

Western water conservation and drought mitigation on private working lands

Water Rights in the West

Stewardship with Vision