In a move to combat the drought crisis affecting the Colorado River Basin, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced on Thursday an $11.1 million cooperative agreement with the Foundation for America’s Public Lands. The partnership aims to enhance drought resilience in the region, which is vital for the millions of Americans who depend on the river for their livelihoods.

The funding, made available through the Inflation Reduction Act under the Biden Administration, is set to bolster efforts to ensure the sustainability of the Colorado River Basin.

“Westerners rely on clean, cold water for everything from drinking to fishing to running businesses,” said BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning. “We’re so pleased to work with the Foundation for America’s Public Lands to leverage these critical funds to invest in America and the health of our public lands and waters in the Colorado River Basin.”

The Colorado River is a crucial water source for 40 million people across six western states, 30 tribal nations, and two states in northern Mexico. It is also essential for over 16 million jobs that depend on the river’s water supply. However, serious drought in the region poses a severe threat to local communities, economies and ecosystems.

“Nearly 40 million Americans rely on a healthy Colorado River Basin to sustain their livelihoods — but unprecedented drought is posing an existential threat to their communities, landscapes and economies,” said I Ling Thompson, CEO of the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, emphasizing the urgency of action. “By investing in restoration projects in partnership with local communities, we can strengthen the resilience of the American West so that future generations can thrive for years to come.”

The BLM, which manages more public land in the Colorado River Basin than any other federal agency, recognizes drought as the most critical threat to the region. The drought impacts various sectors, including agriculture, grazing, wildlife and fisheries, recreation, cultural resource uses, and power generation and distribution.

The Foundation for America’s Public Lands, officially formed in 2022 and chartered by Congress in 2017, serves as the BLM’s charitable partner. The Foundation operates to raise private funds and awareness, increasing access to and stewardship of over 245 million acres of U.S. public lands and waters.

The cooperative agreement between the BLM and the Foundation spans five years and aims to undertake restoration projects on a landscape scale. This approach will cover multiple states and invest in local communities that depend on and manage the land. The agreement also allows the Foundation to collaborate with other partner organizations, bringing in technical experts to enhance the effectiveness of the projects.

The initiative underscores a commitment to developing innovative, community-based partnerships that can address the drought crisis more effectively. By involving local communities, the BLM and the Foundation hope to create sustainable solutions that ensure the long-term health and resilience of the Colorado River Basin.