DENVER, Colo. (January 17, 2025) — The Department of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation’s $24.9 million investment under the Inflation Reduction Act expands state and locally-led efforts in the Rio Grande Headwaters to combat long-term drought, mitigate the impacts from wildfire, and improve infrastructure, restoring important wildlife habitat and water security for communities.
“The Rio Grande is the underpinning that supports the economic and ecological health of the region. This funding allows conservation partners to critically address and relieve the challenges this habitat and community have experienced from long-term drought and sustainability insecurity,” said Tracy Stephens, senior specialist for riparian connectivity at The National Wildlife Federation. “We applaud the Bureau of Reclamation’s investment and recognition of the importance of riparian health and habitat connectivity. This funding is an important step forward in a collective effort to achieve well-connected and functional riparian corridors to protect the wellbeing of people, plants, and wildlife in the Upper Rio Grande.”
“We applaud Reclamation’s dedication to improving drought resilience in the Rio Grande through this investment in collaboratively developed multi-benefit projects,” said Elle Benson, Rio Grande program manager with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “Riparian restoration on the Rio Grande headwaters benefit fish and wildlife, agriculture, and the estimated 12-13 million people downstream that depend on the Rio Grande for drinking water.”
Home to ten sovereign Tribes and Pueblos, the Rio Grande watershed has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years, with its waters and lands serving as crucial resources for agriculture, wildlife, and cultural practices. The National Wildlife Federation’s Ribbons of Life Initiative collaborated with local communities, Pueblos and Tribes, NGOs, and agencies to develop a strategic approach for preserving this vital landscape, addressing environmental and cultural needs, and ensuring long-term sustainability in the face of climate change. Many of the projects selected for funding in New Mexico through this announcement were identified and fostered by the Initiative.
This achievement was led by The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and conservation partners throughout the basin including The National Wildlife Federation, The Rio Grande Water Conservation District, San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District, Conejos Water Conservancy District, Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project, Colorado Open Lands, Santa Clara Pueblo, Middle Rio Grande Water Conservation District, New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Colorado Water Conservation Board, American Rivers, Amigos Bravos, and others in developing and securing this federal funding for the Upper Rio Grande.
Visit the National Wildlife Federation Media Center at NWF.org/News.