Colorado River Basin
The Nature Conservancy is working to protect the Colorado River Basin, which provides water, food, recreation and energy for more than 40 million people.
Statements from the Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission and The Nature Conservancy
in response to Bureau of Reclamation Grant Funding Announcement
Media Contacts
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Lindsay Schlageter
The Nature Conservancy
Phone: 6129683141
Email: lindsay.schlageter@tnc.org
Today the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission received a grant award from the Bureau of Reclamation’s Upper Colorado River Basin Environmental Program for their San Juan water lease agreement project with the Jicarilla Apache Nation and The Nature Conservancy.
Hannah Riseley-White, NM Interstate Stream Commission Director
“We are pleased with this new funding award to support the ongoing success of this groundbreaking initiative among the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the State of New Mexico and a non-profit organization to find mutually beneficial water management solutions. The State of New Mexico is committed to the continued implementation of this great partnership to build resilience to climate change within the Colorado River Basin.”
Adrian Notsinneh, President, Jicarilla Apache Nation
“The Nation appreciates the continued support for the first-of-its-kind water sharing agreement between the Nation, the State of New Mexico, and TNC. The recent funding award will help to ensure that the project continues for the complete ten-year term, and that the intended benefits of the project are fully realized. As we approach the third year of the project, we are already seeing benefits to the Nation, the State, and most significantly, the plants and animals that depend on the river. This project illustrates that partnerships among states, tribes and environmental organizations can lead to innovative, scalable solutions that really make a difference. We hope that our project can serve as a model for future projects and partnerships in the Colorado River Basin as we all work to address the effects of persistent drought, acidification, and climate change.”
Celene Hawkins, Tribal Partnerships Program Director, The Nature Conservancy’s Colorado River Program
“It is an honor to work with the Jicarilla Apache Nation and support Indigenous led conservation on the Colorado River and in the development of solutions to address our water crisis in the West. Our innovative partnership grew from an understanding of how working together, we could create a greater impact, while benefiting the people and nature who depend on this river system. I’m excited that we are now almost fully funded for the entirety of our 10-year agreement and truly believe that this federal investment is a recognition of the work that was put into this project and its demonstrated benefits.”
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Conservation Across the Basin
Learn more about our conservation work and partnerships in the Colorado River Basin.
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 81 countries and territories (40 by direct conservation impact and 41 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit nature.org or follow @nature_press on X.