Local Collaboration to Develop an Integrated Watershed Plan for the Lower Virgin River
T. Anderson1*, R. Sutter2*, D. Campbell3, K. Jespersen4, B. Wooldridge5, J. Wilkening6, and C. Wright7
1The Nature Conservancy, Las Vegas, NV, USA; tanderson@tnc.org
2Enduring Conservation Outcomes, Savannah, GA, USA; rsutter@enduringconservation.com
3Campbell and Associates, Henderson, NV, USA, debc1216@gmail.com
4Rivers Edge West, Grand Junction, CO, USA; kjespersen@tamariskcoalition.org
5United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Flagstaff, AZ, USA; Brian_Wooldridge@fws.gov
6United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Las Vegas, NV, USA; Jennifer_wilkening@fws.gov
7Desert Conservation Program, Clark County, NV, Las Vegas, NV, USA; caryn.wright@clarkcountyNV.gov
Ensuring water security for people and nature in western watersheds is challenging. This challenge is being addressed on the Lower Virgin River in Arizona and Nevada through the development of a collaborative integrated watershed plan. The Virgin River is one of the last naturally flowing rivers in the southwestern US, originating in the mountains of southwest Utah and flowing through Arizona and Nevada to join the Colorado River. The river supports the water and recreation needs of several communities, including St. George, Utah and Mesquite, Nevada, both of which have had significant population growth in recent decades. The river and riparian corridor is home to many plant and animal species including several endangered fish and bird species.
In September 2017, a group of 23 local community members, irrigation and water districts, city representatives, county, state and federal partners convened to organize the Virgin River Coalition. The goal is to ensure that the Lower Virgin River from the Utah state line to Lake Mead continues to support local communities and nature. A collaborative approach was essential where past conservation efforts have failed or led to confrontation. The purpose of the Coalition is to develop and initiate implementation of a cooperative, broad-based, integrated watershed plan that will improve the human benefits and ecological health of the Virgin River for future generations of residents, businesses, recreational users, farmers, and ranchers. This plan expands on previous efforts by working at the watershed scale, addressing people and nature, and developing strategies through a collaborative process.