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Protecting Water Resources for People and the Environment 2015 NAWC Water Summit Private Enterprise. Public Trust OCTOBER 6, 2015 Mark Briggs, Senior Program Officer, Fresh Water Program, World Wildlife Fund [email protected] (520) 548-4045 A. Melton About Us WWF's mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth. Our vision is to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. © Michel Roggo / WWF-Canon Our Work Is Global Advancing conservation in 100 countries. We Focus Our Resources on Supporting the Following Areas Wildlife Oceans Forests Fresh Water Food & Agriculture Climate FreshWater Fresh Water Goal Secure water for people and nature. By 2030, the world’s major basins are sustainably managed to support biodiversity and human livelihoods. WWF’s BINATIONAL RESPONSE IN THE RIO GRANDE/BRAVO BASIN 6 Harbors more mammal species than Yellowstone National Park. More reptile species than the Sonoran Desert. Photograph by Jim Rorobaugh More bird species than the Florida Everglades. Over 100 different fish species, many found no where else in the world. Nearly 25% of all known cactus species. Rio Grande/Rio Bravo – A Watershed of Great Contrasts Rapidly Growing Cities Significant Farmland Critical, yet Imperiled Fresh Water Ecosystems Peach and Williams 2000; Schmandt 2002] Border population is doubling every twenty years Day’s Edge/WWF-US (2015) Agriculture accounts for about 85% of the total water demand in the basin. A. Melton (2014) Signs of Trouble in the Rio Grande/Bravo Basin OverIMPOUNDMENT the Last 50 Years: RIVER WATER DIVERSION AND OVER-ALLOCATION OF WATER RESOURCES CONTAMINATION SPREAD OF NON-NATIVE SPECIES FLOOD CONTROL ACTIONS REUTERS/Tomas Bravo The Rio Grande/Rio Bravo at El Paso/Juarez LOSS OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES FOR PEOPLE AND NATIVE HABITAT RIO GRANDE IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF AMERICAS MOST ENDANGERED RIVERS It Is All About Water Natural Contributions (snow and rain) Paper water rights and water concessions are almost double the amount of water that is typically available in the system Jurgen Hoth Upper Watershed Ag (including livestock production) accounts for 85% of the surface water withdrawals in the basin (TWRI 2012). Agriculture Evaporation Community/Urban Only drops remain for at-risk communities and fresh water ecosystems Peach and Williams 2000; Schmandt 2002] Plumbing of the Rio Grande/Bravo It Is All About Water Natural Contributions (snow and rain) Climate change predictions will likely exacerbate water imbalances Upper Watershed Agriculture Evaporation Community/Urban Drops for under-represented people and fresh water ecosystems may be even more scarce Plumbing of the Rio Grande/Bravo WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO PROTECT WATER RESOURCES AT A BASIN SCALE? Four important ingredients Audra Melton INGREDIENT ONE: SCIENCE AND RESTORATION EXPERIENCE AT THE SUB-BASIN or REACH SCALE Alfredo Rodriguez, WWF INGREDIENT TWO: MULTI-SECTOR RESPONSE AND INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS Ranchers, NGO, and Academia Agencies, Riverside Towns, NGOs, Businesses, Private Foundations Farmers, Agencies, NGO, Private Foundations, Academia Alfredo Rodriguez, WWF Local Communities, Agencies, NGOs, Private Foundations, Academia INGREDIENT TWO: MULTI-SECTOR RESPONSE AND INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS National Park Service Local Consultants The Coca-Cola Company WWF Profauna CONANP INGREDIENT THREE: NOVEL APPROACHES THAT INCREASE FLEXIBILITY OF WATER MANAGEMENT Eg., A Farmer Invests to Improve Water Distribution and Irrigation Potential Win-Win for People and Nature Dry Farms in Other Parts of the Basin J. Hoth A. Rodriguez Lining Antiquated Irrigation Canals Pool of Conserved Water Thirsty Cities Fresh Water Ecosystems INGREDIENT FOUR: BRINGING IT TOGETHER – FOMENT A TRUE BASIN-WIDE RESPONSE SANTA FE – ALBUQUERQUE: TNC, US Forest Service, Coca-Cola, Academia, Municipalizes, others ELEPHANT BUTTE: NM Audubon, Federal and State Agencies, Irrigation District El Paso - Juarez RIO CONCHOS AND BIG BEND WWF, Businesses, Federal and State Agencies, Farmers, Ranchers, Academia, Communities BITTER LAKES: NGOs, Federal Agencies, Academica LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY: Farmers, Municipalities, NGOs, and Federal Agencies RIO GRANDE/BRAVO ESTUARY: NGOs, Businesses, Federal and State Agencies, Farmers, Academia, 21 Municipalities What can you do? © naturepl.com / Juan Carlos Munoz / WWF-Canon Support the Binational Rio Grande/Bravo Forum Fall of 2016 Focus on water and water management in a changing climate Bringing together diverse sectors that are already engaged in water and natural resource conservation initiatives Learn from each other, explore linkages and identify collaborative ways forward Contact: [email protected] Learn About Basin Report Cards Basin report cards are a proven tool to create a shared vision of ecosystem health and spur action (e.g., Chesapeake Bay) WWF, the University of Maryland’s Center for Environmental Science (UMCES, and others are leading locally led report cards in basins around the world As part of Rio Grande/Bravo Forum we will be developing a basin report card for a portion of the basin Learn more at: worldwildlife.org/getthegrade Become Part of the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) First global framework to promote sustainable freshwater use Based on criteria for good water stewardship that align with other sustainability initiatives WWF and partners are working globally with a diversity of sectors to improve their water stewardship and pursue AWS certification Learn more at worldwildlife.org/aws Thank You For More Information Contact: [email protected] (520) 548-4045 Audra Melton