The American West is being depleted right in front of us. In every state, there are people working hard to protect the land and the species that depend on it. Here's where to put your time, money, and attention.
I'm Austin Williams, a filmmaker based in Las Vegas. My wife Sam Arikawa and I follow the rivers, deserts, and communities of the West through long walks with the people who know this land best.
Our next film takes us to the Rio Grande. The one after that to another Compact state. The arc is seven films for seven states, each one a long walk through a watershed.
Alex Harper, a biologist and naturalist guide, teaches us what we're looking at: the ecology, the species, what's already been lost and what's still here. The films are built around his eye for the natural world.
This page exists for two reasons. First, to point you toward people already doing the work in each state. Second, to ask for your help if these films matter to you.
The first film
The first film is finished. Upload coming soon.
Film coming soon
The next film
The next film follows the Rio Grande on foot, through New Mexico, with Alex Harper reading the river and the land alongside us. It's the second in a series of seven. One long walk per state, one watershed at a time. We're self-funding again and your support goes directly toward travel, gear, and editing.
Pitch video coming soon
Support the next film
We're funding the Rio Grande film the way we funded the first one, out of our own pockets and with help from people who want to see it made. The budget to do it right is $30,000. That covers editing, travel, and gear, and it lets us pay Alex Harper and the wildlife filmmakers whose footage makes these films what they are.
Early access to the finished cut before it goes public.
A printed photo from the trail for gifts of $100 or more.
Where to give
Seven states share the Colorado River Compact. Each one has groups already holding the line on water, land, and wildlife. Pick a state, find a way in.
01 NevadaLower Basin+
Show up
Friends of Nevada WildernessYear-round volunteer trips across Spring Mountains, Avi Kwa Ame, Sloan Canyon, and the Black Canyon Water Trail. Trail work, spring monitoring, restoration.
Learn
Red Rock Audubon SocietyLas Vegas chapter running free public bird walks, citizen science, and beginner-friendly monthly programs.
Speak up
Nevada Conservation LeagueNevada's statewide conservation advocacy hub. Action alerts, the conservation scorecard, water and climate policy organizing.
02 CaliforniaLower Basin+
Show up
Mojave Desert Land TrustJoshua Tree-based land trust protecting 125,000+ acres of California desert. Stewardship Days, native plant nursery, Salton Sea restoration plantings.
Learn
Audubon California (Salton Sea Program)The Salton Sea Leadership Program and Bombay Beach Wetland Restoration. California's most direct Colorado River story.
Speak up
California Environmental VotersCalifornia's statewide conservation advocacy org. Environmental scorecard, Find My Legislator tool, Colorado River and Salton Sea policy work.
03 ArizonaLower Basin+
Show up
Wild ArizonaArizona's only full-time professional conservation field crew. 30+ stewardship trips a year across four priority Wild Connections corridors, including the Colorado.
Learn
Tucson Bird AllianceWeekly free birding field trips, the Paton Center for Hummingbirds, community science, and an annual birding festival.
Speak up
Sierra Club Grand Canyon ChapterArizona's largest grassroots environmental org. The Arizona Water Sentinels program protects the Verde and San Pedro Rivers.
04 UtahUpper Basin+
Show up
Southern Utah Wilderness AllianceUtah's flagship grassroots wilderness org. Stewardship projects across Bears Ears, Grand Staircase, Dark Canyon, and Red Mountain.
Learn
Great Salt Lake AudubonSalt Lake chapter running field trips, the annual Great Salt Lake Bird Festival, and active campaign work against the Lake Powell Pipeline.
Speak up
Utah Rivers CouncilThirty years of grassroots water advocacy. Runs the 4,200 Project for Great Salt Lake and serves as the Great Salt Lake Waterkeeper.
05 ColoradoUpper Basin+
Show up
Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado100+ stewardship projects April through October. Trail building, habitat restoration, invasive removal. Half-day to multi-day options.
Learn
Colorado River WatchThe largest volunteer water quality monitoring program in the country. Join a monthly sampling team at a local watershed.
Wyoming Wilderness Association5,500 members defending Wyoming's wild places. Stewardship outings and the Run the Red ultra marathon for Red Desert conservation.
Learn
Bighorn Audubon SocietySheridan-based chapter covering seven northeast counties. Guided bird walks, the Wyoming Birds for Kids program, partnerships with Apsáalooke and Northern Cheyenne communities.
Speak up
Wyoming Outdoor CouncilWyoming's oldest conservation org, founded in 1967. Public lands, wildlife migration corridors, Upper Green River Basin water work.
07 New MexicoUpper Basin+
Show up
New Mexico WildStatewide wilderness stewardship. Let's Get Wild! hikes and service projects, plus the Wilderness Defenders monitoring program.
Learn
Friends of Bosque del ApacheRefuge friends group on the Rio Grande. Festival of the Cranes every December, refuge tours, citizen science.
Speak up
Conservation Voters New MexicoNew Mexico's statewide conservation advocacy org. Legislative scorecard, the Verde Voters program, acequia and tribal-aligned water policy.