Save the Colorado and Save The Poudre

River Conservation |  Clean Water  |  Ecosystem Restoration |  Nature-based Climate Solutions  |  Environmental Justice  |  Dam Removal |  Rights of Nature for Rivers  |  Community Empowerment  |  River Protection

Save The Colorado and Save The Poudre are the most outspoken and aggressive river-protection advocates in Colorado and the American Southwest on these three programs:

1. RIVER CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION: We work to conserve and protect rivers by addressing the threat of new dam/diversion/pipeline projects that are proposed in Colorado and the Southwest. Our rivers are in extreme crisis, and building new dams and diversions is nonsensical when smarter, faster, cheaper alternatives exist. We also focus on restoring flow to rivers, restoring river ecosystems, and keeping our rivers clean and healthy by addressing pollution and other hazards that foul our waterways. 

2. RIGHTS OF NATURE FOR RIVERS: We work with local advocates and governments in Colorado and the Southwest to establish new legal protections for rivers that give a real voice to Nature in decision-making. The Rights of Nature for Rivers movement is rapidly expanding across the globe because it is a Nature-Based Solution to Climate Change, Supports Environmental Justice, and Empowers Local Communities. We are the leading advocate for Rights of Nature for Rivers in Colorado and the Southwest.

3. SUPPORTING DAM REMOVAL: We are the leading organization in the U.S. with a long-term, visionary campaign that supports the decommissioning of Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River and restoring the flow of the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park. We also support removing dams and other obstructions across rivers in the American Southwest wherever it makes sense to do so. Removing dams helps fight the climate crisis.

We have achieved Very Notable Victories including: 
1. Securing a $100 million conservation fund for the Cache la Poudre River of northern Colorado,
2. Stopping a new major dam on the St. Vrain River near Lyons, CO,
3. Establishing Rights of Nature for Rivers movements, and passing resolutions, in several local communities in Colorado,
4. Catalyzing the construction of the "Poudre River Whitewater Park" in downtown Fort Collins, CO,
5. Stopping (for now) a major proposed dam and diversion project near the Holy Cross Wilderness Area in Homestake Valley, Eagle County, CO,
6. Helping to stop a huge proposed Colorado-River draining water pipeline across Wyoming,
7. Achieving a district court victory against the Gross Dam expansion in Boulder County, CO,
8. Carrying the torch and catalyzing the long-term movement to decommission and remove Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River in Arizona,
9. Birddogging the Colorado Water Plan so it focuses more on river protection rather than building new dams, and,
10. Earning thousands of media stories over the last two decades advocating for sustainable long-term management alternatives, and river protection, for the Cache la Poudre River, the Colorado River, and rivers across the American Southwest.

Both Save The Colorado and Save The Poudre are cofounded and directed by Gary Wockner who google describes as "The Most-Quoted and Prolific Contemporary River Conservation Activist in Colorado History."

Gary has received numerous awards and accolades over his 25-year river-conservation career, including being named a "River Hero," an "Eco-Rockstar Impacting the Planet," and an activist who has "Shaken Colorado's Water World and made 2025 a Banner Year for its Rivers." Please reach out to Gary with any questions, gary@savethecolorado.org 

Thank you for your support!