Important Colorado River Agreement Reached but More Work Remains, Says 探花精选

A Drought Contingency Plan would prepare the arid West for a drier future for people and birds.

BOULDER 鈥斕Today after the seven Colorado River Basin states announced that an agreement about a Drought Contingency Plan is ready for approvals, Jennifer Pitt, 探花精选鈥檚 Colorado River program director, issued the following statement:

鈥淭his news puts us closer than we鈥檝e ever been to a more secure water future for the Colorado River鈥 but we are cautiously optimistic. Arizona is the last piece of the puzzle before the Drought Contingency Plan is a done deal,鈥 said Jennifer Pitt, 探花精选鈥檚 Colorado River program director.

鈥淭he DCP will set important groundwork that improves supply reliability for all Colorado River water users, and importantly, this will also trigger Mexico鈥檚 efforts鈥攗nder Minute 323鈥攖o store more water in Lake Mead. More water in Lake Mead means reduced risk of severe water shortage declarations. Having the DCP in place means that we can focus on programs that increase water supply for the Colorado River Delta, break more ground on projects to mitigate and restore the Salton Sea, and protect groundwater-dependent rivers and other important habitats that birds need.鈥

To learn more about 探花精选's work in the Colorado River Basin and Delta, please visit听www.audubon.org/conservation/project/colorado-river-basin-and-delta.

The 探花精选 protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. 探花精选 works throughout the Americas using, science, advocacy, education听and听on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give 探花精选 an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, 探花精选 believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Learn more how to help at听听and follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @audubonsociety.

Contact: Nicolas Gonzalez, ngonzalez@audubon.org, (212) 979-3068.