Leading with Strength in a Time of Change
This past year has been tumultuous. Across the nation, federal commitments on climate action have been shredded, and long-standing policies that have protected our communities, habitat, and wildlife for decades have been gutted.
But I want to share something equally as true: We have persisted, and we have made progress.
“Our region is growing faster than ever, and we need better strategies to manage increasing demands on already strained resources.”
WRA Wins Court Case
WRA secured a landmark decision against the Arizona Corporation Commission in Superior Court requiring UniSource Energy to conduct an environmental review and public input process for its 200-megawatt gas plant expansion. The commission attempted to overrule the state committee’s ruling. This is a significant win for Arizonans who deserve transparency and regulators who use their expertise without the interference of partisan politics.
Permanent Protection of the La Jara Basin
Colorado permanently protected nearly 46,000 acres in the La Jara Basin — a sweeping win for wildlife, cultural resources, and watershed health. WRA provided analysis and policy expertise that helped drive this major conservation decision. This protection preserves a vast landscape in the San Luis Valley at a time of increasing development pressure.
Saving Utility Customers Millions
WRA saved utility customers money by avoiding unnecessary wildfire mitigation costs. Through WRA’s advocacy, Xcel customers saved $400 million by negotiating a requirement that the utility securitize the significant costs associated with wildfire mitigation efforts. And we saved PacifiCorp customers more than $70 million annually by successfully challenging the utility’s unreasonable wildfire insurance costs.
Nevada Proposes the Nation’s 1st Aggregate Reliability Standard
Nevada became the first state to propose an aggregate reliability standard — a modern framework that recognizes the realities of a renewable-rich grid. WRA helped shape it, ensuring that clean energy, flexibility, and environmental outcomes were central to the design. This positions Nevada as a leader in grid planning.
Protecting the Shoshone Water Rights
WRA led the conservation community’s support for securing the Shoshone water rights — among the most important in the Colorado River Basin. These rights maintain essential streamflow from Glenwood Canyon to Grand Junction, supporting fish, wildlife, recreation, and municipal water supplies. WRA provided expert testimony urging the state to acquire the rights for permanent instream flow protection.
Helping Safeguard the Crystal River
WRA was invited to join the Crystal River Wild & Scenic Collaborative because of our long-standing leadership in instream flow protections and river expertise. We are helping identify ecological flow needs, supporting expert studies, and contributing to the development of long-term management plans. This work positions the community to potentially pursue durable Wild & Scenic protections for an iconic Colorado waterway.
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Strengthening State Action
For a decade, advocates in New Mexico have known that the beloved, distinctive wildlife that helps drive its economy was vulnerable from worsening flooding, drought, and habitat loss, but state wildlife managers’ hands were tied. They lacked the tools and authority needed to act. It’s a common story across the West; state leaders are working with antiquated regulatory frameworks and policies that aren’t set up to meet modern-day challenges.
“Our family supports WRA because we know that their policy efforts are effective in protecting Western land and water,..
Gina F. | Denver, Colorado
WRA supporter since 2018
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Guiding Growth
The West is in an era of growth that is placing unprecedented demands on our natural resources. At the same time, scientific data tells us that we must cut harmful greenhouse gas emissions, reduce water use, and protect sensitive habitats to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
“I really appreciate the approach that the WRA takes to energy policy. I’m glad that they are keeping an eye on data centers and the impact they have on electrical infrastructure..
David Colvin | Salt Lake City, Utah
WRA supporter since 2018
Our research shows that by adopting smart policies, decision makers can require data centers to develop their own clean resources while also conserving water and protecting consumers from financial risk.
“To anyone just learning about WRA and considering donating to it, I would say, ‘Yes. Do it.’ I have been a longtime supporter of WRA, going back to its earliest days when it was first called the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies. I have consistently been impressed by the high quality of their work and the impressive results they have achieved...
Stuart Bluestone | Santa Fe, New Mexico
29 years of giving to WRA
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The Road We Traveled
During our 2023-2025 For Home, For Nature strategic plan, WRA followed a clear path: drive state-level action to secure lasting protections for the West’s land, rivers, wildlife, and communities. By grounding our work in data, legal expertise, persuasion, and strong partnerships, we advanced policies that cut pollution, conserved water, safeguarded land, and strengthened resilience in a changing climate. The accomplishments in this section reflect the impact of that approach.
CLEAN ENERGY
Leading Colorado’s Clean Heat Transition
WRA has been instrumental in shaping Colorado’s approach to building decarbonization.
Driving Major Emissions Cuts Across the West
Policies championed by WRA’s Climate Fix will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 91 million tons annually by 2030, cutting pollution across multiple sectors of the economy. These policies accelerate the retirement of fossil resources, expand clean energy and energy efficiency, and strengthen the West’s long-term climate commitments.
$700 Million for Transportation Electrification
WRA helped secure over $700 million in transportation electrification investments, which will expand access to electric vehicles (EVs) for residents across the West. The investment increases the availability of charging stations, incentivizes e-bikes and electric buses, and supports disproportionately impacted communities who stand to benefit most from cost savings provided by EVs.
Extended Day-Ahead Market Launches
In 2023, the federal government approved the Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM), the first wholesale energy market of its kind in the West. WRA shaped its design, ensuring the inclusion of reliability, affordability, and environmental safeguards. EDAM is projected to save customers up to $1.2 billion annually, laying the foundation for a more integrated and decarbonized Western grid.
Strengthening Accountability, Protecting Customers
WRA shined a light on Salt River Project’s (SRP) stagnant planning and rising customer costs. Our analysis illuminated major gaps in SRP’s decarbonization trajectory, increasing pressure for stronger commitments. We pushed SRP to evaluate renewable alternatives more rigorously and improve transparency. This work sets the stage for more climate-aligned leadership, strengthens accountability, and protects customers.
HEALTHY RIVERS
Bringing Data-Driven Solutions to the Colorado River
The Colorado River Basin faces historic challenges driven by drought, overuse, and a changing climate.
Protecting 1,650 River Miles
WRA helped secure new and strengthened protections across more than 1,650 river miles throughout the Interior West, including over 250 miles on high-value stretches of the Green, Yampa, Colorado, and Gunnison rivers. These wins safeguard critical habitat, maintain reliable streamflow, protect water quality, and reinforce long-term resilience for rivers that sustain Western life and economies.
Basinwide Water Savings
Through long-term collaborations, WRA secured policies and funding to save water across the Colorado River Basin. Over the past five years, basinwide reductions totaled approximately 500,000 acre-feet annually. These savings helped stabilize reservoirs, but more needs to be done. Our team is advocating for Colorado River management guidelines to protect the river that sustains the West.
Restoring Wetlands Protections After Federal Rollbacks
After a Supreme Court ruling narrowed federal protections for wetlands, WRA worked with the state of Colorado and the state of New Mexico to restore safeguards. Our leadership shaped new laws and rulemakings that protect over 1 million acres of wetlands and headwater streams, ensuring states retain critical regulatory tools to protect water quality and habitat.
Expanding Outstanding Water Protections
WRA’s expertise and public engagement helped secure 1,155 miles of new Outstanding Waters protections in the West. These designations protect water quality, habitat integrity, river health, and recreational value, and safeguard communities that depend on clean water. Colorado
WESTERN LANDS
A Durable Funding Model for a Changing Climate
WRA plays a pivotal role in helping Western states build stable, long-term funding for land and water conservation.
WRA Secures $950 Million in Conservation Investments Over the Next Decade
WRA helped secure more than $200 million in one-time conservation funding and an additional $95 million in recurring annual funding — a total of $950 million over the next decade. This strengthens the region’s capacity to restore ecosystems, expand outdoor access, and build resilience to wildfire and drought.
8.75 Million Acres Protected
WRA won new protections across 8.75 million acres of land in the Interior West — roughly 12% of all the region’s protected land. These gains safeguard critical wildlife habitat, cultural landscapes, and recreation areas — like La Jara Basin in Colorado and L-Bar/Marquez Wildlife Management Area in New Mexico. WRA is ensuring the West’s natural areas remain healthy.
Oil and Gas Industry To Pay for Land Restoration
WRA helped craft and secure Colorado’s new oil and gas production fee, ensuring industry — not the public — pays to repair environmental damage. The fee generates over $100 million annually and allocates over $50 million each year to restore degraded land, improve migration corridors, and reduce oil and gas impacts .
Expanding Outdoor Access and Equity
Colorado released a statewide strategy to expand equitable outdoor access, ensuring investments reach historically underserved communities and strengthen the cultural and economic case for long-term conservation. This builds upon years of WRA advocacy, which secured more than $10 million in outdoor equity funding across Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada.
Please click here to review our current audited financial report.
If Not for WRA…
Quotes From WRA Staff Members
Colorado’s air and water quality would be in much worse shape.
Coal plants would still be polluting the Denver metro area.
The Cedar Mountain Wilderness Area in Utah would not have been designated.
The interns and fellows who worked here throughout the years may not have grown meaningful careers working to fight climate change and protect the environment.
Colorado would not have new limits on nonfunctional turfgrass statewide.
Our streams and rivers would be a lot drier.
“Our roots go deep. Just say, ‘Rio Grande, Canyon Lands, San Juan Mountains, Gunnison, Salmon, Desolation Canyon, Yellowstone, Bob Marshall, or Glacier Park’ and you trigger a flood of fantastic memories for us. The Mountain West is our home country! Today it is threatened as never before and we are very fortunate to have WRA working to protect and preserve it...
Bob and Anne Barry | Anacortes, Washington
29 years of giving to WRA
Progress is possible because of you.
