How Low-Tech Restoration is Reviving the Colorado River: A Nature-Based Solution

Articles

Mar 25

The National Forest Foundation (NFF) is leading the charge in restoring the vital Colorado River through innovative low-tech, nature-based restoration methods. Their efforts are headed by a team of passionate environmental stewards dedicated to improving forest and watershed health, with a special focus on reconnecting streams to their historical floodplains. Supported by the Walton Family Foundation, NFF is pushing forward with techniques like Zuni bowls, Zeedyk structures, and beaver dam analogs, all aimed at letting nature restore itself. These projects are crucial in ensuring the river’s health and sustaining the vital lifeline for millions across the West.

To make this vision a reality, NFF has developed the CRB Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration Site Identification Tool, which helps identify areas in the Colorado River Basin that are suitable for restoration. This tool is based on the Beaver Restoration Analysis Tool (BRAT) and is designed to support both public and private landowners in implementing restoration techniques. By scaling up these projects, NFF aims to restore critical riparian habitats, improve water quality, and boost biodiversity, ensuring that the Colorado River continues to serve as a lifeline for millions of people and the surrounding wildlife.