With more than 35 million people reliant on its waters, the Colorado River is not just a vital resource but a lifeline. Yet the river is facing drought conditions more extreme than any seen in the last 1,200 years. River flows are declining, causing impacts ranging from the spread of invasive species, to worsening water quality, to the degradation of endangered fish habitat.

The scale of the crisis is historic and requires an equally historic response. An important part of this response is $450 million in federal funding earmarked for water conservation, environmental benefits and ecosystem and habitat restoration in areas impacted by drought. This timely support is an important step toward building resilience in the Southwest and is available to governmental and Tribal entities in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

The crisis on the Colorado River has been building over the last century and cannot be solved with short-term fixes. The Bureau of Reclamation must deploy these funds where they can yield the greatest long-term benefits for people and nature.