Educating the Future

13914110_1157513384289932_7975877247920546978_oOur restoration work in the Colorado River Delta extends beyond planting trees and the scientific monitoring of progress. Community engagement is an important part of our efforts, which includes Environmental Education Workshops throughout the year. Recently, our on-the-ground team hosted one such workshop for the Casa de la Cultura de la Juventud CREA Cultura, as part of their Summer Program (Cursos de Verano).

The children learned about “The Ecosystem of the Colorado River”, where our staff and volunteers shared information about the biodiversity that once existed in the Delta region — and what is returning with our restoration efforts. And — don’t they look as if learning this is fun?!!

Gratitude to all who helped bring together this educational program for these Mexican youth — and for all of our supporters who make this possible. These youth  are the future of the Delta.

Photos byDRubio, Sonoran Institute

‘WATERSHED’…now on Netflix and iTunes!

Screen Shot 2014-07-25 at 10.12.44 AM

We’re thrilled to announce that WATERSHED — the film that launched the Raise the River initiative to restore water and life to this region — is now available for viewing on both Netflix and iTunes!

Executive Produced and Narrated by Robert Redford and Directed by award-winning filmmaker, Mark Decena, WATERSHED tells the story of the threats to the once-mighty Colorado River and offers solutions for a new water ethic for the new American West.

As the most dammed, dibbed, and diverted river in the world struggles to support forty million people and the peace-keeping agreement known as the Colorado River Pact reaches its limits, WATERSHED introduces hope.

In WATERSHED, we meet Jeff Ehlert, a fly fishing guide in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Rancher Dan James, Delta restoration worker Edith Santiago, Navajo Council member Glojean Todacheene, Rifle Colorado Mayor Keith Lambert, Los Angeles native Jimmy Lizama and a group of Outward Bound teens rafting down the Colorado River as they all reflect a compelling new water ethic – one that illuminates how letting go of the ways of old can lead to a path of coexisting with enough for all.

Since its’ 2012 release WATERSHED has:

  • Been an official selection of 53 film festivals, worldwide
  • Won awards at the Bend Film Festival, the Barcelona International Film Festival, the Red Rock Film Festival and the Colorado Environmental Film Festival
  • Screened in a dozen countries, in over 500 community settings (and counting)
  • Broadcast on PIVOT TV
  • Been downloaded over 43,000 times (so far!)
  • Driven over 82,000 people to the watershedmovie.com website
  • Enlisted celebrity support to elevate the profile of the project, specifically Robert Redford, Will Ferrell and Kelly Salter

Join us in celebrating Colorado River Day today, July 25, by watching it — or adding it to your watch-list. And, when you add your review or rating, it helps to make the ranking higher for this award-winning story of the Colorado River Delta.

Share the news!

A Win for the Colorado River!

Jamie Redford, Chairman of The Redford Center, shares in celebrating the news of meeting our initial fundraising milestone of $10 million to restore water and life to the Colorado River Delta!

We want to thank each and every one of our supporters in this effort…whether through donating or sharing our story, every action has contributed to this significant, multinational, environmental win. Our inspiring coalition partners — including The Redford Center, Sonoran Institute, Pronatura Noroeste, The Nature Conservancy, National Audubon Society and Restauremos el Colorado, A.C. — have worked hard, supported by our amazing community — to reach this landmark win for conservation, for our mighty river, and for us all.

We have demonstrated what is possible when people rally around a common goal. While there is still more work to be done, this news is proof that no place is beyond hope… please watch and share!!

Our ‘Delta Supporters’ Tour

13123175_545525535629686_4540901235624830207_oIn late April, the Raise the River coalition had the privilege of hosting a group of our amazing supporters to tour the Colorado River Delta and witness first-hand the impressive results of our restoration works in progress. Our group of 25 — which included key coalition members actively involved in the on-the-ground restoration work — traveled from Mexicali, Mexico to several of our key sites.

In Laguna Grande, we walked through acres of the restored region, lush with young, tall cottonwood and willow trees, all planted within the past three years. We also toured the Las Aranitas wetland site, an innovative conservation effort where we planted filtering plants to assist in waste-water treatment — then benefit from receiving a portion of this treated water to sustain our own restoration efforts.

To share a sampling of what our group experienced, Dr. Osvel Hinojosa of Pronatura Noroeste, featured this tour in his recent video ‘Report From the Field’ on Raise the River’s ongoing activities. Please watch and share! 

Thanks to Sonoran Institute, Pronatura Noroeste, The National Audubon Society, The Redford Center, The Nature Conservancy and Lighthawk, whose participating team members helped make this such a special event.

IMG_4227 copy

1

IMG_4240 copy