WRAN News: January 2023

Well, the West is Getting a Lot of Snow and Rain

Even an abundant start to the snow season is not going to end the drought. With climate warming projected to increase, there’s an urgent need to balance Colorado River water uses with supply, even to reduce uses below supply so that there’s less risk to the dams, to people and to nature. Best to keep the pedal to the floor on reforming Colorado River management—because while winter storms are inherently good for water supplies, there is no guarantee winters will be long, sustained, or consistent. Read more.

Many state legislature’s are beginning their 2023 sessions, where the Colorado River and water management is increasingly at the forefront. Here’s what we’re focused in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico (NM policy webinar) water policy.

Congress Passes Audubon-backed Bill to Assess and Monitor Saltwater Lake Ecosystems in the West

Last month, the Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act became law. This Audubon-backed legislation will establish a scientific monitoring and assessment program to help save the Great Salt Lake and other saline lakes in the West. The additional resources and technical expertise provided within this indispensable program will build on current efforts locally to conserve these habitats, while advancing collaborative solutions across the Great Basin to protect people and birds. Read more.

Also see coverage in the Associated Press, Oregon Public Radio, and Fox 13 Salt Lake City. Audubon appreciates the many continued partnerships which remain key in bringing much-needed scientific attention to these unique lakes.

Around the West

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Want to dig deeper into the issues affecting Arizona's Rivers and water? Check out the blog entries below:

• Audubon’s Top Priorities for the Arizona Legislature in 2023 (en español). January, 2023.
• As Water Levels Plummeted to Historic Lows across the West in 2022, Urgency for Audubon to Protect People and Birds (En español). December, 2022.
• The Colorado River Compact at 100. November, 2022.
• Restoration Efforts in the Colorado River Delta are Working (en español). October, 2022.
• The Clean Water Act at 50 and What it Means for Birds. October, 2022.
• Why is the Colorado River in crisis, and what is being done about it? October, 2022.
• How to Negotiate for Peace, Resilience, and Environment on the Colorado River. September, 2022.
• What the Inflation Reduction Act Means for Water in the West. August, 2022.
• Feds Predictably Declare Record Shortage on the Colorado River. August, 2022. (en español)
• How We Might Address the Water Crisis for the Colorado River and Birds in the West. July, 2022.
• Grand Canyon’s Ecosystem at Risk with Colorado River Crisis. July, 2022.
• Ring the Alarm: Today’s Water Crisis Isn’t a Fire Drill. June, 2022.
• John Oliver Tackles the Colorado River on HBO’s Last Week Tonight. June, 2022.
• Historic Investments in Water, Bipartisan Budget Deal Close Out the 2022 Arizona Legislative Session–But No Progress on Rural Groundwater Management. June, 2022.
• New Dire Colorado River Warnings from the Federal Government. June, 2022.
• Water for the Colorado River Delta in a Dry Year. May, 2022.
• Federal Water Legislation Poised to Benefit Birds and People. May, 2022.
• Stumbling Toward “Day Zero” on the Colorado River. April, 2022.
• Building a Resilient Arizona by Investing in the State’s Natural Resources (en español). April, 2022.
• Federal Funding Provides Some Wins for Water Conservation and Birds in the West. April, 2022.
• Why We Need an Arizona Water Security Plan, Now (en español). February, 2022.
• Audubon Discusses Western Water and More With Secretary of the Interior. February, 2022.
• Investing in Arizona’s Water will Improve Outlook for People and Birds.  January, 2022.
• Amid a Drought Crisis, Inspiration from Our Work in Western Water for Birds and People. December, 2021.
• Infrastructure Bill will Help Address Declining Water Levels and Drought in the West. November, 2021.
• Bringing the Issue of Declining Groundwater to the Surface. October, 2021.
• Audubon's Jennifer Pitt Testifies before U.S. Senate on Drought and Climate Change. October, 2021.
• We Need More Voices Calling for Change in Arizona. October, 2021.
• Amid a Drought Crisis, the Colorado River Delta Sprang to Life This Summer. Audubon Magazine. October, 2021.
• The West Urgently Needs Federal Funds to Address Drought, Wildfire, and Climate Change. September, 2021.
• Audubon: Arizona Communities Should be Able to Protect their Groundwater Resources.  September, 2021.
• The Entire Colorado River Basin is in Crisis. September, 2021.
• Drought? This Is What Climate Change Looks like in the West. August, 2021.
• U.S. Government Declares Water Delivery Reductions to Southwestern States as Climate Change Devastates Colorado River. August, 2021.
• Federal Action Needed to Address Disastrous Drought, Wildfires, and Ecosystem Degradation in the West. July, 2021.
• The Age of Aridification on the Mighty Colorado River. July, 2021.
• The Entire Colorado River Basin is in Crisis. July, 2021.
• The Momentary Reprieve of Rain on the Rio Grande. July, 2021.
• Arizona Legislative Session Results in Funding for Audubon Priorities. July, 2021.
• Colorado River Water flows across U.S.-Mexico border through historic cooperation. May, 2021.
• Reconnecting the Colorado River to the Sea. May, 2021.
• Arizona Passes Law that Partially Protects Some Rivers Left Behind from Federal Clean Water Act Rollbacks. May, 2021.
• Experimental High Spring Flows in the Grand Canyon. May, 2021.
• Over 150,000 Acres of Critical Habitat Designated for the Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Arizona. May, 2021.
• Critical Habitat Finally Designated for Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo.  April, 2021.
• Planting along the Colorado River with the Cocopah Indian Tribe and Yuma Audubon. April, 2021.
• A Bird (and People) Budget for Arizona’s Legislature. March, 2021.
• Audubon’s Water Policy Agenda Focuses on Results. March, 2021.
• Groundwater Protections Key to Sustaining Water Supplies for People and Birds. March, 2021.
• Federal Priorities for a Secure Water Future in the West. February, 2021.
• Audubon-Supported Legislation Benefits Birds and Water Rights Holders in Arizona. February, 2021.
• Keeping Beer and Rivers Flowing: craft brewers speak up to advance Arizona’s water law. February, 2021.
• Advancing Arizona’s Groundwater Management to Protect Our Water Supply. February, 2021.
• Western Water Network Grants: Chapter Highlights. February, 2021.
• Climate Change is Driving Water Scarcity across the West.  January, 2021.
• Top Arizona Water Priorities for the Legislature this Year.  January, 2021.
• A Colorado River Win for the Navajo Nation as Congress Passes Major Omnibus. December, 2020.
• Western Water Legislation Advances Conservation, Resilience, and Equity. December, 2020.
• Audubon Prepares Advocates for Upcoming Arizona Legislative Season.  November, 2020.
• Endangered Birds Were Dying Where They Shouldn't. Now Scientists Know Why.  October, 2020.
• Arizona’s Often-dry Streams Now under Threat Due to Clean Water Act Rollback.  October, 2020.
• Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo Remains Federally Protected after Delisting Threat Falls Flat. September, 2020.
• Sustaining Healthy Groundwater Levels is Critical to Habitat, Birds, and People. September, 2020.
• Audubon “Wingspan” Weighs in on Colorado River Lake Powell Pipeline.  September, 2020.
• Lake Mead and Lower Colorado River to Remain in Tier Zero Shortage for 2021. August, 2020.
• Arizona’s Rivers Could Face Irreparable Harm. August, 2020.
• New Senate Bill Threatens U.S.—Mexico Cooperation, Environment, and Birds of Lower Colorado River. July, 2020.
• Arizona: (UPDATE) International Infrastructure Issues Threaten Arizona’s Santa Cruz River. July, 2020.
• In Driest Year in Half Century, Audubon Releases Water into Rio Grande to Sustain Flows. July, 2020.
• U.S. Senate Introduces New Program to Assess and Monitor Saltwater Lake Ecosystems in the West. July 2020.
• Gila River Diversion Stopped. June, 2020.
• U.S. Senate Votes to Protect Birds, Improve Parks, and Create Jobs. June, 2020.
• Connected by Water: Healthy rivers are key to our physical, emotional, and economic recovery. June, 2020.
• Arizona Department of Water Resources and Audubon Agree to Funding Plan to Conserve Colorado River Water. May, 2020.
• Arizona Legislature Adjourns 2020 Session. May, 2020.
• Arizona Legislature on the Verge of Adjourning.  May, 2020.
• Water Policy Wins in Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico before Coronavirus Closures. May, 2020.
• Restoring the Colorado River Delta. May, 2020.
• Native Plants Help Restore the Colorado River. May, 2020.
• Audubon Calls for More Resources and Attention (not Less) for Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo. February, 2020.
• Arizona Legislators, Western Rivers Action Network Discuss Water Security. February, 2020.
• UPDATE: New Federal Rule Reduces Protections for Water in the West, Harming People and Birds. January, 2020.
• Five Audubon Chapters Awarded with Western Water Grants. January, 2020.
• Prioritizing Water Security for Arizona’s Birds and People.  January, 2020.
• Building a Positive Water Future: Western Water Highlights in 2019.  December, 2019.
• Why Groundwater Matters for Arizona’s People and Birds. November, 2019.
• Climate Change Threatens Arizona’s Forest Birds.  October, 2019.
• Arizona Legislature Wraps up with Wins for Birds, Water, and Public Lands. June, 2019.
• In the Field—Western Rivers Bird Count. June, 2019.
• International Infrastructure Issues Threaten Arizona’s Santa Cruz River. May, 2019.
• Audubon’s Jennifer Pitt Honored with Leadership Award for Colorado River Work. May, 2019.
• Arizona Needs to Resolve Long-Running Lawsuit in Order to Protect Rivers. April, 2019.
• A Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan Is in Place—Now What? April, 2019.
• Bipartisan Colorado River Drought Plan Signed into Law Averting Potentially Catastrophic Outcomes for People and Birds.  April, 2019.
• Outdoor Recreation Along Arizona’s Waterways is a $13.5 Billion Industry, Ranked Higher than Golf and Mining, New Report Says. April, 2019.
• Bipartisan Colorado River Drought Plan Overwhelmingly Passes in Congress. Audubon Says: “Win for People and Birds in the Arid West.” April, 2019.
• New Federal Rule Would Reduce Protections for Water in the West, Harming People and Birds. March, 2019.
• How Craft Beer Is Helping Save Water In the Colorado River Basin. March, 2019.
• The Drought Contingency Plan and How We Got Here. March, 2019.
• After Major Progress in Arizona Water Policy, Audubon Continues the Cause. February, 2019.
• Audubon Gives Testimony In Support of Funding to Remove Invasive Plants Along Arizona's Rivers. February, 2019.
• Historic Agreement Reached in Arizona to Avert Devastating Water Shortages in the West: Audubon says “critical step in protecting 36 million people and 400 species of birds”. January, 2019.
• Audubon: Pass the Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan. January, 2019.
• What is Going on with Water Planning in Arizona? December, 2018.
• What happened in Vegas? When it comes to water, this doesn’t stay in Vegas. December, 2018.
• Eight Natural Resource Issues for the next U.S. Senator from Arizona.  November, 2018.
• 10 Things You Should Know About Arizona’s Groundwater Management Act.  October, 2018.
• Balancing the needs of rivers, riparian habitat, and housing while ensuring environmental protections and sustainability for Arizonans. August, 2018.
• Dense forests, encroached meadows, and devastating wildfires: How Audubon and the Arizona Elk Society work together to protect rivers in the West. August, 2018.
• Using less and paying more. A conundrum it seems, until you dig a little deeper.  July, 2018.
• Connecting the Dots: From DCP and Lake Mead to Protecting Flowing Rivers and Habitat: Why birders and wildlife advocates should care about Lake Mead.  June, 2018

(To see stories from across the Colorado River Basin, visit National Audubon's Western Water News page.)

Past WRAN Newsletters:

January, 2023 (en español)
December, 2022
November, 2022
October, 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
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December 2021
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