A companion to the films

Help the West

The American West is being depleted right in front of us. Here's where to put your time, money, and attention.

Where to start

In all seven states along the Colorado River, people are already showing up for the West. You don't have to do it alone, just pick a state and join in.

01  NevadaLower Basin
Show up
Friends of Nevada Wilderness Year-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 Society Las Vegas chapter running free public bird walks, citizen science, and beginner-friendly monthly programs.
Speak up
Nevada Conservation League Nevada's statewide conservation advocacy hub. Action alerts, the conservation scorecard, water and climate policy organizing.
02  CaliforniaLower Basin
Show up
Mojave Desert Land Trust Joshua 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 Voters California's statewide conservation advocacy org. Environmental scorecard, Find My Legislator tool, Colorado River and Salton Sea policy work.
03  ArizonaLower Basin
Show up
Wild Arizona Arizona'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 Alliance Weekly free birding field trips, the Paton Center for Hummingbirds, community science, and an annual birding festival.
Speak up
Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter Arizona'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 Alliance Utah's flagship grassroots wilderness org. Stewardship projects across Bears Ears, Grand Staircase, Dark Canyon, and Red Mountain.
Learn
Great Salt Lake Audubon Salt 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 Council Thirty 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 Colorado 100+ stewardship projects April through October. Trail building, habitat restoration, invasive removal. Half-day to multi-day options.
Learn
Colorado River Watch The largest volunteer water quality monitoring program in the country. Join a monthly sampling team at a local watershed.
Speak up
Conservation Colorado Colorado's statewide conservation advocacy org. Environmental scorecard, action alerts, Colorado River Compact work.
06  WyomingUpper Basin
Show up
Wyoming Wilderness Association 5,500 members defending Wyoming's wild places. Stewardship outings and the Run the Red ultra marathon for Red Desert conservation.
Learn
Bighorn Audubon Society Sheridan-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 Council Wyoming'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 Wild Statewide wilderness stewardship. Let's Get Wild! hikes and service projects, plus the Wilderness Defenders monitoring program.
Learn
Friends of Bosque del Apache Refuge friends group on the Rio Grande. Festival of the Cranes every December, refuge tours, citizen science.
Speak up
Conservation Voters New Mexico New Mexico's statewide conservation advocacy org. Legislative scorecard, the Verde Voters program, acequia and tribal-aligned water policy.

The first film

I'm Austin Williams. My wife Sam Arikawa and I made this film with our good buddy, Alex Harper, a biologist and naturalist guide who knows the land and its wildlife.

The Great Depletion: Las Vegas. Watch the film here.

Help fund The Great Depletion: Rio Grande. Give