Denver — As the Colorado River Basin faces unprecedented challenges due to drought and wildfire, a new partnership between the University of Minnesota, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership will work with the Bureau of Land Management to identify opportunities to leverage aquatic restoration for wildfire resilience. 

Supported by the Foundation for America's Public Lands, this partnership will work to develop tools that fill critical research gaps and implement demonstration projects to showcase how the Bureau of Land Management can strategically invest in nature-based techniques to bolster critical water resources and mitigate the impacts of wildfire benefitting wilderness, wildlife, rural communities, and water supplies across the basin. 

“This partnership couldn’t come at a more critical time, as wildfire and drought are affecting communities all across the Colorado River Basin,” said Alicia Marrs, associate vice president of Western water at the National Wildlife Federation. “As the region’s largest steward of land and the precious water resources that traverse those lands, the Bureau of Land Management has both an enormous responsibility and a tremendous opportunity to manage these resources to support all uses under their multiple use mandate. We’re excited to help the agency identify practical, cost-effective solutions that strengthen resilience to drought and wildfire.”

“The amount of stress that persistent drought and wildfire are causing for communities and infrastructure in the Colorado River Basin cannot be overstated. Luckily, we have an incredibly powerful ally to join forces with as we navigate these challenges - nature,” said Emily Fairfax, renowned researcher in the field of beaver ecosystem engineering and associate professor at the University of Minnesota. “I’m excited to leverage geospatial technologies and on-the-ground knowledge to figure out how and where we can partner with nature to protect the ecosystems and people who call this basin home.”

"Healthy rivers and streams are the backbone of the Colorado River Basin, for fish and wildlife, for hunters and anglers, and for the communities that depend on them," said Melanie Thornton, senior director of Western water for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. "This partnership aims to fill research gaps and test nature-based approaches on the ground, and give the Bureau of Land Management more options for strategically investing in restoration that builds wildfire resilience and protects water resources across the basin. TRCP is glad to join this partnership and support BLM's work to safeguard the basin for wildlife and the communities who depend on it.”

“The Bureau of Land Management manages more land in the Colorado River Basin than any other agency, making it a critical steward of the region’s water resources and a key player in building wildfire resilience,” said Daley Burns, Wildlife Program Officer at the Foundation for America’s Public Lands. “This partnership will give the BLM the research, tools, and real-world examples needed to leverage streams and wetlands to reduce wildfire risk. As the BLM’s official charitable partner, the Foundation is proud to bring together partners and resources to help ensure these public lands and waters remain healthy for generations to come.”