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Priority Landscapes

Colorado River Basin

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

Celebrating the Colorado River

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.

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A river flows through a 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. We are working to make sufficient water available to support resilient urban and rural economies, including agriculture, recreation and fundamental human needs.

A wide river curves through a landscape of towering mesas that glow red and golden in the sun.

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Our Colorado River

More than 40 million people rely on the Colorado River for water, food, recreation and energy. Stand with us to protect this iconic lifeline of the west.

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.

The Latest in the Basin

Discover current projects, partnerships, good news, and more happening throughout the Colorado River Basin.

View all stories here

Click here to see all of our local stories in the Colorado River Basin. Scroll to the right for a few recent highlights!

Preserving the Incredible Wildlife of the Colorado River Basin

From amazing mammals to migratory birds to fish species found nowhere else on Earth, the vast array of wildlife in the Colorado River Basin represents the wonders of the West.

Field of Dreams

Discover how TNC is working with ranchers and farmers to test crops that have the potential to deliver economic returns, withstand drought, use less water and offer hope for the Colorado River.

New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission awarded grant for San Juan water lease agreement

The New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission received a grant from the Bureau of Reclamation for their San Juan water lease agreement with the Jicarilla Apache Nation and The Nature Conservancy.

Endangered Fish Recovery Program

Working to restore the four federally listed endangered fish species in the upper basin: humpback chub, bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker.

A River in Crisis

Dire conditions in the Colorado River Basin call for collaborative solutions.

Maybell Project Restores Hope for Irrigators and Endangered Fish

The Colorado River, for all its complex policies and deep-rooted history, represents a contemporary conundrum: too much demand and too little water.

A Win-Win-Win Solution for the Colorado River

Learn how the Jicarilla Apache Nation, TNC and New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission are working together to address water-scarcity issues throughout the Colorado River Basin.

Yampa River Fund

The Yampa is the last relatively free-flowing major river in the Colorado River Basin. The Yampa River Fund aims to protect the Yampa's water supply for people and nature.

Water Security for Arizonans

Freshwater resources in Arizona serve as a critical water supply for the people of Arizona, and surrounding areas. Discover how we are addressing water security for people from all communities.

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.