We Are Rivers

Join us for Episode 22 of We Are Rivers – Climate Change Part 2: Climate Change is Water Change. In this episode we expand on our learnings from Part 1 of the climate change series (episode 21) and discuss the impacts of climate change to the southwest, particularly in the Colorado River Basin.

We know the impacts of climate change will affect all corners of the globe, and places like the southwest and the Colorado River Basin that are already dry will experience increased vulnerability in the form of higher temperatures, variable precipitation, earlier runoff, more intense wildfires and punctuated flooding events. These events will only intensify over time and will vary depend on the specific location within the region – some areas will get hotter and drier while other will experience more precipitation in the winter months. As Brad Udall says in the podcast, in the Colorado River Basin, climate change is water change.

Join us to learn more about how climate change has and will continue to affect the southwest.

Photo Credit: Colleen Miniuk, Desert landscape near Channel Island at the head of Virgin Canyon in Lake Mead in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Join us for Episode 21 of We Are Rivers – Climate Change Part 1: Understanding the Science. In this episode we back-up broad-based knowledge about climate change with scientific explanations and address some questions from you about some of the impacts of climate change.

Climate change is happening all around us, and it’s our responsibility to understand how and why we are experiencing these effects and the role humans have. Join us in this episode of We Are Rivers, as Brad Udall, climate scientist, explains climate change and addresses some common questions about our changing climate. From the concepts and questions covered in this podcast episode, you will gain greater understanding and insight about how this broadly-accepted scientific understanding is creating challenges for communities, economies, and ecosystems all around the world.

Join us for Episode 21 as we discover the science behind what is increasingly happening all around us.

Photo Credit: NOAA, Maps of Observed trend in temperature from 1900 to 2012 from 2014 Climate Assessment

Eighty percent of Americans live in cities. In Episode 20 of We Are Rivers, we talk with Majora Carter, co-founder of the Bronx River Alliance, and Jenny Hoffner with American Rivers about why restoring and celebrating urban rivers is so important. Tune in to learn more about the renewed connection local communities have with the Bronx River in New York and the Flint River in Georgia.

Photo Credit: Bronx River, Charles R Berenguer, Jr

In Episode 4 of Ripple Effects we highlight Steamboat Springs, where like many other communities in Colorado understand the importance of a healthy, flowing rivers for the city and its residents. Tune in today to learn more about the connection Steamboat has with their local river, the Yampa and its many tributaries.

Ripple Effects is a sub-series of American Rivers’ podcast We Are Rivers, focusing on the connections local communities have with their rivers.

Photo Credit: Tubing on the Yampa River in Steamboat Springs, City of Steamboat

In Episode 3 of Ripple Effects we highlight Eagle County. Residents understand the importance of a healthy, flowing rivers for their communities in the Eagle and Roaring Fork Valleys. Tune in today to learn more about the connection Eagle County has with their local rivers including the Eagle, Upper Colorado, Roaring Fork and Frying Pan Rivers.

Ripple Effects is a sub-series of American Rivers’ podcast We Are Rivers, focusing on the connections local communities have with their rivers.

Photo Credit: Colorado River Ranch, Colorado River, Ken Neubecker

The story of the Green is, in a word, complicated. There are many different uses and user groups who depend on the Green River. Telling the complicated tale of the Green River – including its past, present and future is a daunting task. Despite these challenges, Heather Hansman, environmental reporter and former raft guide, felt a unique pull to tell the story of the river from the seat of her packraft - its threats, opportunities and the intersection with its many users. In the summer of 2017, Heather paddled the entirety of the Green River, headwaters to confluence, providing a front row seat to how the Green moves, meanders, and provides.

Earlier this spring Heather’s new book, Downriver, made its way to bookshelves and kindles across the country. Downriver tells the story of the Green River, the challenges and opportunities facing the river and the many communities and user groups that depend on its water from its source to the confluence with the Colorado River. Join me us on this episode as we talk with Heather and learn more about the importance of the Green River and why she chose to explore and write about the Colorado’s most significant tributary.

Climate change hits rivers and water first and hardest, impacting all communities but particularly historically marginalized communities who, as a result of generations of discrimination, are often located in floodplains, drained wetlands, or adjacent to sewage outfalls. The impacts of climate change exacerbate the other injustices that these communities face and will only grow worse over time. It’s important that when we talk about climate change, it isn’t just about charts and numbers but also environmental justice.

American Rivers believes everyone should have clean water and a healthy river. A significant portion of our nation’s drinking water comes from rivers, and we must do more to protect them from the impacts of climate change. Across the country, communities are experiencing shifts and variability in weather and climate such as increased droughts, more severe floods and serious water quality issues from rising water temperatures and algal blooms. While all communities feel the impacts of climate change, historically marginalized communities often experience the brunt of the challenges.

Tackling the issues of climate justice and climate change is a complicated and daunting task. But there are solutions to help communities adapt to a changing climate. At the national, state and local levels communities and stakeholders are coming together to identify innovative and collaborative solutions. In the face of many challenges, there is much to be hopeful for and inspired by.

Join us today on Episode 18 of We Are Rivers as we hear from Dr. Robert Bullard and Chris Williams who discuss climate change and climate justice, and what it means for people, rivers and the environment.

Photo Credit: Liz Bell, ednc.org

This year, the America’s Most Endangered Rivers® report spotlights the threat that climate change poses to rivers, clean water supplies, public safety and communities nationwide. This year we are using America’s Most Endangered Rivers to not only call for action on the 10 listed rivers but also to spotlight how climate change is threatening all of our rivers. We want to help drive urgency around stopping climate change, and, we want to advance efforts to protect and restore rivers, which strengthens communities in the face of climate impacts.

Join us today on We Are Rivers to learn more about the big decisions facing a rivers and communities in 2019 and what you can do to help them. Learn more about the rivers, the issues facing them and what we can do to help at www.AmericanRivers.org/EndangeredRivers2019.

Photo Credit: Cody Bear Sutton - Gila River, New Mexico

For this episode of We Are Rivers, we take a break from understanding the policies that manage and protect our rivers to focus on why it is we care about protecting rivers in the first place. In Episode 16 we hear from two of our listeners: Eliza Stein and Jordana Barack as they share their river stories.

The stories of how Eliza Stein and Jordana Barrack became involved in river running, their favorite memories on water, and what they hope to accomplish with water conservation and inclusivity will be featured in this episode. Stories have the power to emotionally relate people to issues and causes, and this relation creates solidarity, this solidarity fosters cooperation, and this cooperation leads to conservation.

Join us by listening to Episode 16 of We Are Rivers, The Power of a Story. After you’re done, take a moment and share your story with us as part of our 5,000 Miles of Wild story collection.

Photo Credit: Sinjin Eberle, Green River in Desolation Canyon, Utah

Today, we release part 2 of our mini series on the impacts of a Colorado River Compact Call. Building on the content of Episode 14, in Episode 15 we hear again from Jim Lochhead, CEO of Denver Water and Andy Mueller, General Manager of the Colorado River Water Conservation District.

Episode 15 describes their thoughts about what the Upper Basin States are doing to reduce the risk of a Compact Call. As Lochhead and Mueller describe, Upper Basin Water managers are taking a number of different voluntary approaches to reduce Compact risk, including demand management, a voluntary program that compensates water users on a temporary and voluntary basis to reduce water use and increase deliveries to Lake Powell.

This is exciting stuff! After listening to Episode 14, tune in to part two of the mini series, Episode 15 Colorado River Compact Call Part 2 – Reducing the Risks of a Call!

*Please note that throughout this episode all referenced reservoir water levels are specific to the time this episode was recorded during the summer of 2018. For updated reservoir levels, you can directly visit a reservoir’s website*