Philanthropic Solutions to Ease the Water Crisis

Transcription

1 Philanthrpic Slutins t Ease the Water Crisis

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3 What can philanthrpy due t ease the water crisis? Save the pieces. Essential Pririties Prtecting a healthy river system eases the water crisis in part because f the wrk rivers d and the ecsystem services they prvide, such as drinking water supplies, agricultural prductin and recreatinal pprtunities. The benefits f land and water cnservatin include imprving water quality and quantity, putting mre water instream, and prtecting and restring fish and wildlife habitats.

4 Lwer Klamath River and Blue Creek Salmn Sanctuary Del Nrte and Humbldt Cunties, CA A Crnerstne fr Klamath River Restratin In ne f the earth s bidiversity htspts, Western Rivers Cnservancy is partnering with Califrnia s largest Native American tribe t create a glbally imprtant cld-water salmn sanctuary and permanently prtect 73 square miles f vital wildlife habitat. This prject is a slutin fr the water crisis, as it is prviding a cld-water lifeline t frever prtect the mst recverable runs f wild salmn in the West. WRC is leveraging private philanthrpic supprt, PRIs, public funding, New Markets Tax Credits, and carbn ffset sales t bring a $65 millin prject t fruitin.

5 Ri Grande, Clrad Cnserving Habitat and Recnnecting Cmmunities t the River The Ri Grande flws nearly 2,000 miles frm Clrad s San Juan Muntains t the Gulf f Mexic. WRC is pursuing high pririty cnservatin prperties in suthern Clrad s San Luis Valley. The prject area lies within the cngressinally-designated Ri Grande Natural Area, between the Alamsa Natinal Wildlife Refuge and New Mexic s Ri Grande Wild and Scenic River crridr. Western Rivers Cnservancy is acquiring mre than 18,000 acres f land alng six miles f the Ri Grande and tributaries t enhance fish and wildlife habitats and create new cmpatible public access. WRC and partners have established an innvative apprach t cnservatin in this suthwestern ecsystem. A multi-year seven figure fundatin investment awarded last mnth in the San Luis Valley is encuraging cllabratin thrugh prject develpment funding, capital supprt, a cmmunity re-granting prgram, and PRIs.

6 Little Cimarrn River Gunnisn & Mntrse Cunties, Clrad Returning Flw t a Dry Reach f a Great Trut Stream In an innvative slutin fr a great trut stream that is dewatered fr several mnths annually, WRC acquired a 214- acre prperty alng the Little Cimarrn River upstream f the Black Canyn f the Gunnisn. By acquiring a prperty with very senir water rights, WRC has effectively gained cntrl f a lifeline fr the Little Cimarrn. This prject will: guarantee a perennial flw in the Little Cimarrn all the way t the Black Canyn f the Gunnisn; dramatically increase this pririty stream s adaptability t a changing climate; and allw native Clrad cutthrat trut t re-clnize a frmer part f their range. A prgram-related investment and capital leveraged the recnfiguratin f the water rights. Public funding will allw the water t be dedicated t instream use, when it is needed mst in late summer mnths. The land will be cnveyed t a private cnservatin buyer.

7 What can philanthrpy due t ease the water crisis? Hw Suthwestern Philanthrpies Can Set Pririties, Leverage Resurces and Implement Systemic Slutins Assess: the imprtance f healthy functining river ecsystems fr recharging aquifers and ther ecsystem services. Partner: with ther funders and grantees t priritize watersheds and river systems, leverage resurces, and deliver stacked benefits fr cnservatin and cmmunities. Supprt: prject develpment csts, capital needs, and interim funding thrugh prgram-related investments.

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