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Priority Landscapes

Colorado River Basin

The Colorado River is the lifeline of the West, spanning 1,500 miles of river across seven U.S. states and two countries.

Aerial view of a wide river flowing through a forest.
San Juan River Sunrise over Farmington, New Mexico © Rory Doyle

More than 40 million people depend on the Colorado River Basin for their water

including 30 federally recognized Tribal Nations. 150 threatened species depend on the river for their survival, and 70% of native fish species in the basin are found nowhere else on Earth.

The Colorado River flows through the Grand Canyon.
Grand Canyon North Rim Toroweap Point above the Colorado River on the Grand Canyon's North Rim. © Stephen Alvarez/National Geographic Image Collection

Program Overview

The Nature Conservancy envisions a Colorado River system in which rivers and aquifers have enough water—at the right times and places—to support healthy populations of native fish, birds and other wildlife and the ecosystems they depend on.

TNC is working to make sufficient water available to support resilient urban and rural economies, including agriculture, recreation and fundamental human needs.

Aerial view of a wide river basin with a river winding through it.
The river basin The Colorado River cuts through a canyon near Kremmling, Colorado on July 9, 2024. © Rory Doyle
A river running through a canyon.
Maybell Irrigation Project
Yampa River
TNC and partners completed a $6.8m project aimed to ensure irrigators have water for their livelihoods, protect riparian habitat for fish and improve recreational access.
A wide river running through grass and trees.
Water Security for Arizonans
Verde River & beyond
Beyond Arizona’s vast deserts are a rich network of rivers, tributaries and streams that fuel our economy, environment and daily life.
A reservoir with low water levels.
Restoring Water Levels
Nevada
In Nevada, we're elevating the importance of maintaining water levels in Lake Mead and restoring important Colorado River tributaries like the Virgin River.
A wide river running through canyons and wetlands.
A Win-Win-Win Solution for the Colorado River
San Juan River
This first-of-its-kind agreement between a Tribal Nation, state government and conservation NGO led to a historic release of water designed to benefit both nature and people.
A man holding a fish.
Utah's Nursery for Endangered Fish
Matheson Preserve
At TNC’s Matheson Preserve, scientists and engineers are protecting razorback sucker larvae in the preserve’s sheltered habitats during their most vulnerable stage of development.
A frozen river.
Restoring the Colorado River Delta
Mexico
Most of the Colorado River's water is used up by farms and cities before reaching the sea. What's being done to return water, and life, to the Delta?
A scientist standing in a forest covered in snow.
Snowtography: Protecting Forests for Water
Wyoming
TNC is conducting cutting-edge research to determine how to help Wyoming’s forests store more water.

Explore

Discover Different Approaches, State by State

Our Work in the Basin Discover projects we're working on throughout Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Mexico.

Add a Podcast to Your Queue

In partnership with Mountain & Prairie, we're bringing you exclusive conservation stories, updates, advice and more from TNC leaders and host Ed Roberson.

Support our work

The Colorado River is one of the hardest working rivers in the West. The Nature Conservancy is working hard across the entire Colorado River Basin to protect this amazing river and resource.