Wind River Alliance: Protecting Water, Promoting Community

The Wind River, which becomes the Bighorn as it leaves the northern boundary of the Wind River Indian Reservation near Thermopolis, Wyoming, is part of the headwaters of the Missouri River. The Wind and its tributaries are struggling with drought -- a big stretch of the river runs nearly dry every year from irrigation demands. But by bringing together the many people with interests in a healthy river, the Wind River Alliance can ensure that the river runs for generations to come.

Wind River Alliance, established just six years ago, is initiating dialog between key stakeholders in the Wind River watershed: irrigators, non-irrigators, federal agencies, the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes, and conservation interests. They’ve involved tribal members in hearings on coal bed methane production on the reservation and pushed for greater adherence to the “public hearings” requirements of the National Environmental Protection Act. As a community-based, cross-cultural organization, Wind River Alliance brings together Indians and non-Indians to examine issues in the watershed.

“We’re creating opportunities for dialog among people who have been at odds for years.” explains director Jolene Catron. “This goes back to fact that the Tribes and State of Wyoming litigated water rights to the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1980s. The Tribes were awarded a senior right of over 500,000 acre feet of water, but the whole watershed has suffered from the litigious nature of this issue.”

In response, Wind River Alliance’s strategy has focused on bringing a new level of cooperation and shared effort to preserve the watershed.

“We’re meeting with people in the watershed to learn about their issues, to get their input about how to talk about the watershed and manage the water and other resources.”

Then Wind River Alliance turns that input into action. In addition to watershed protection, they’re supporting efforts to reintroduce the buffalo to the Wind River Reservation, while monitoring the introduction of coal bed methane production on and near reservation land. For the last four years their week-long youth leadership summer camp has engaged young people in caring for the river, including stream bank restoration and environmental leadership training. They’re exploring the possibility of expanding this into a year-round watershed monitoring program, which would culminate in the annual summer youth leadership camp.

The reach of Wind River Alliance goes even beyond the ecosystem of the region. Several of its leaders are founding members of the Indigenous Waters Network, a newly formed national and international network of tribal water protection efforts. Through that network, Wind River can share their expertise and learn from other comparable efforts to protect watersheds across the world, and in doing so, support indigenous communities.

Jolene explains, “A community is only as healthy as its water. By promoting a healthy Wind River watershed, we can assist in restoring health and justice to all our communities.”