Get Involved
The numbers on this site are only the scoreboard. If you want to do something about them, these are the organizations doing the work across the basin: groups that campaign for the river, groups that explain it, and the districts and farm associations that hold the water rights. Most publish a newsletter, and that is the easiest first step.
Listing is not endorsement. Colorado River Monitor is an independent data site and takes no position on any organization's campaigns. Know an organization that belongs here? Tell us.
Conservation and advocacy
Groups that campaign for river health, in-stream flows and conservation-first management.
American Rivers
Basin-wideNational river-conservation organization with dedicated Upper and Lower Basin Colorado River programs.
Take part: Southwest email list, blog and podcast.
Audubon Rockies, Western Rivers
Upper BasinWorks on healthier rivers and wetlands for birds and people through science, policy and restoration in Colorado and Wyoming.
Take part: Western Water Action Network alerts and email updates.
Interior West environmental law and policy group with a program to save water and protect rivers across six basin states.
Take part: Email sign-up, blog, webinars and a podcast.
Protects Utah's watersheds and the communities that depend on them, with a focus on Upper Basin water use and the Lake Powell Pipeline.
Take part: Newsletter, email alerts and a water footprint calculator.
Glen Canyon Institute
Upper BasinWorks to restore Glen Canyon and a free-flowing Colorado River through Grand Canyon, including the Fill Mead First proposal.
Take part: Monthly newsletter and the River Talk blog.
Grand Canyon Trust
Lower BasinProtects the Grand Canyon and the Colorado Plateau, with a water program covering the river and Arizona groundwater and a public river-temperature dashboard.
Take part: Email updates, blog and volunteer programs.
Hunting and fishing conservation group whose Colorado River program pushes water infrastructure, drought resilience and Farm Bill conservation.
Take part: Roosevelt Report newsletter and action alerts.
Trout Unlimited, Colorado River Basin
Basin-wideColdwater conservation organization restoring and reconnecting basin streams and improving irrigation efficiency with ranchers.
Take part: Local chapters, newsletter and the Western Water 101 podcast.
Nevada and Utah watchdog on Western water policy, including post-2026 Lake Mead and Lake Powell operations.
Take part: Water West blog and email list.
Friends of the Verde River
ArizonaRestores habitat and sustains flows on the Verde, a Colorado tributary that supplies the Phoenix area.
Take part: Volunteer restoration days, newsletter and events.
Education and research
Organizations that explain the river, publish data and analysis, and convene the parties.
Water Education Foundation
Basin-wideNonpartisan nonprofit whose Colorado River Project has helped parties in both basins find common ground since 1997.
Take part: Aquafornia daily news digest, Western Water magazine and tours.
Water Education Colorado
ColoradoPublishes Headwaters magazine and the Fresh Water News newsroom, and runs citizen guides and water-leader programs.
Take part: Fresh Water News newsletter, courses and events.
University center on water policy and management through research, education and public engagement.
Take part: Weekly Wave newsletter, webinars and the annual conference.
Pacific Institute
CaliforniaResearch institute on water resilience, with Colorado River Basin and Salton Sea work.
Take part: Monthly newsletter, reports and online tools.
Agencies, water users and agriculture
The districts, associations and farm groups that hold and deliver Colorado River water.
Public district for Colorado's West Slope that protects, conserves and develops the water resources of the Colorado River basin within the state.
Take part: The News Drop newsletter and State of the River public meetings.
Colorado River Water Users Association
Basin-wideNonpartisan forum of the seven states, tribes and Reclamation for exchanging ideas on river use and management.
Take part: Annual December conference in Las Vegas.
Advocates for family farmers, ranchers and irrigation districts in 17 Western states on water supply and policy.
Take part: Monthly Briefing e-newsletter and annual conference.
Trade association for Arizona agriculture with a standing Colorado River advocacy program.
Take part: Events and member programs.
Other ways to take part
- Comment on federal decisions. Reclamation posts public comment periods for Colorado River operations on its Colorado River Basin page.
- Attend your water provider's board meetings. Rates, conservation rules and drought plans are set locally, and the meetings are public.
- Put the levels on your own site. The free embeddable widget shows the Upper Basin, Lower Basin or any set of reservoirs and updates itself daily.
- Follow the readings. The weekly digestsends every reservoir's level and the week's change each Monday.