In 2019 businesses stepped up and led on water stewardship. We are excited to say that this year we engaged more businesses than ever in efforts to secure water for the economy, the environment, and our communities. Moving forward, we will be working on helping to protect and manage groundwater supplies, educating consumers about water conservation, and matching corporate donations to critical water stewardship projects. We look forward to helping your business lead on water stewardship in 2020!

Business for Water Stewardship 2019 Impact

Through the initiative of business sponsors, Business for Water Stewardship (BWS) was able to fund over 30 on-the-ground water projects that restore over 2 billion gallons of water in 2019. This is enough water to fill over 3,000 Olympic swimming pools!

Projects in 2019 included urban green infrastructure, irrigation modernization, and water leasing programs incentivizing water users to use less resulting in the restoration of flows to rivers. Click here to see our complete project portfolio on the BWS Project Bank.

Comanche Creek Flow Restoration Project 2019

Businesses Leadership on Drought Planning, Groundwater, Going to CO Voters & Educating the Public

Many businesses took the lead this year by advocating for the Drought Contingency Plan (DCP). The DCP was supported by all seven basin states, sailed through Congress for swift passage, and gained the President’s signature in the spring. The passage of this system-wide plan will help protect and stabilize the Colorado River’s water supplies in all seven states. Companies from all regions and sectors of Arizona’s economy played an active role in advocating for this progressive drought strategy.

The passage of Proposition DD in Colorado legalizes sports betting and earmarked the proceeds of the tax for funding the state's water plan. The state estimates it will cost $100 million a year to fully fund the comprehensive water plan. This new measure is capped at $29 million a year, making it a down payment on the water plan.

Looking ahead in 2020, the Arizona team is gearing up to release a study focused on the economic value of Arizona's groundwater led by ASU. In addition, we will be engaging in For the Love of Colorado, a statewide water education campaign to inform Coloradans about water conservation and what healthy rivers mean for the economy and their way of life.

Promise the Pod - Orca Recovery Day Highlights

The orcas of the West Coast are declining in number. Promise The Pod (PtP) is bringing together and supporting multiple habitat restoration programs with one goal in mind: save the orcas. PtP will plant 1 million trees from British Columbia to California, restore critical habitat, and engage voices across industries.

Over 900 volunteers gathered up and down the West Coast on October 19th for Orca Recovery Day. PtP partnered with One Tree Planted to plant over 6,000 trees, which will benefit stream systems that contribute to orca food supply (salmon). Click here to see highlights from Orca Recovery Day!

Orca Recovery Day 2019

IN THE NEWS

• Corporate leaders tour Verde River to study water conservation - Highlights the collective impact of Coca Cola, Waste Management, Sinagua Malt, Hauser and Hauser Farms, Tres Hermanes Ranch and Page Springs Winery in the Verde River Basin.
• Time to put aside politics and support common sense solution of Prop DD - Upstate Colorado's opinion piece on Proposition DD and the importance of funding the Colorado Water Plan.
• Audubon Secures Important Water Right That Supports Birds and People - The groundbreaking In-Stream-Flow on the Rio Gallinas permit allows private water right holders the option to lease or sell their water for environmental purposes. In 2017, BWS facilitated a large project to enhance instream flows in New Mexico, which supported a first-ever lease of Native Rio Grande water for New Mexico

COMING UP IN 2020!

BWS is sponsoring, participating with, and attending many water events in early 2020 - Join us! 

• January 15: 2020: A Big Year for Colorado’s Rivers, join us for a discussion about Colorado water planning and river health - Colorado Mesa University, CO
• January 17: Denver Chamber of Commerce/Infrastructure Committee presentation on the For the Love of Colorado water education campaign, open to all chamber members - Denver, CO
• January 27 - February 2: Waste Management Phoenix Open - Phoenix, AZ.
• February 4: Greenbiz -  Phoenix, AZ 
• Week of February 25: Rocky Mountain PBS water awareness week across Colorado with on air programming and events in Grand Junction, Durango, Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Denver - Denver, CO