Restoring Flows to Depleted Ecosystems | Breakthrough

my work is really around a campaign

my work is really around a campaign called changed the course which is about

called changed the course which is about

called changed the course which is about getting the public engaged in fresh

getting the public engaged in fresh

getting the public engaged in fresh water conservation and beginning to

water conservation and beginning to

water conservation and beginning to figure out how we can restore flows

figure out how we can restore flows

figure out how we can restore flows water to depleted rivers and wetlands

water to depleted rivers and wetlands

water to depleted rivers and wetlands and freshwater ecosystems we’re piloting

and freshwater ecosystems we’re piloting

and freshwater ecosystems we’re piloting this in the Colorado River Basin which

this in the Colorado River Basin which

this in the Colorado River Basin which is one of the most water stressed river

is one of the most water stressed river

is one of the most water stressed river basins in North America one of the most

basins in North America one of the most

basins in North America one of the most exciting moments of my life

exciting moments of my life

exciting moments of my life professionally has been bringing the

professionally has been bringing the

professionally has been bringing the Colorado River back to the sea which

Colorado River back to the sea which

Colorado River back to the sea which happened for the first time in many many

happened for the first time in many many

happened for the first time in many many years last year I first went to the

years last year I first went to the

years last year I first went to the Delta in 1996 and what you see there

Delta in 1996 and what you see there

Delta in 1996 and what you see there except for a few patches is a very

except for a few patches is a very

except for a few patches is a very desiccated place you know and I had read

desiccated place you know and I had read

desiccated place you know and I had read about the Delta before all the dams and

about the Delta before all the dams and

about the Delta before all the dams and diversions how it was this incredibly

diversions how it was this incredibly

diversions how it was this incredibly beautiful lush vibrant alive ecosystem

beautiful lush vibrant alive ecosystem

beautiful lush vibrant alive ecosystem with all the damming and diverting of

with all the damming and diverting of

with all the damming and diverting of the water upstream that Delta had just

the water upstream that Delta had just

the water upstream that Delta had just dried up thanks to so much hard work by

dried up thanks to so much hard work by

dried up thanks to so much hard work by conservation groups and officials on

conservation groups and officials on

conservation groups and officials on both sides of the border this agreement

both sides of the border this agreement

both sides of the border this agreement was signed a couple years ago saying

was signed a couple years ago saying

was signed a couple years ago saying we’re going to give some water back to

we’re going to give some water back to

we’re going to give some water back to the Delta and it’s a very small amount

the Delta and it’s a very small amount

the Delta and it’s a very small amount but last spring on March 23rd the gates

but last spring on March 23rd the gates

but last spring on March 23rd the gates at Morelos Dam the last Dam on the

at Morelos Dam the last Dam on the

at Morelos Dam the last Dam on the Colorado River went up and for the first

Colorado River went up and for the first

Colorado River went up and for the first time in many years water began to flow

time in many years water began to flow

time in many years water began to flow through the channel of the Colorado

through the channel of the Colorado

through the channel of the Colorado River back toward the sea and just a

River back toward the sea and just a

River back toward the sea and just a tiny bit of water actually reached the

tiny bit of water actually reached the

tiny bit of water actually reached the sea but it was such a symbolic very

sea but it was such a symbolic very

sea but it was such a symbolic very important event to have a river actually

important event to have a river actually

important event to have a river actually meet the sea again if a river is born

meet the sea again if a river is born

meet the sea again if a river is born with the Destiny it’s to reach the sea

with the Destiny it’s to reach the sea

with the Destiny it’s to reach the sea and the Colorado hasn’t been able to

and the Colorado hasn’t been able to

and the Colorado hasn’t been able to realize its destiny in most years for a

realize its destiny in most years for a

realize its destiny in most years for a long long time it just blew me away

long long time it just blew me away

long long time it just blew me away because you would try to find where the

because you would try to find where the

because you would try to find where the leading edge of the river was going to

leading edge of the river was going to

leading edge of the river was going to be on a given morning and you’d look up

be on a given morning and you’d look up

be on a given morning and you’d look up and almost like a mirage you know you

and almost like a mirage you know you

and almost like a mirage you know you would see the river start to come

would see the river start to come

would see the river start to come towards you and all of a sudden your

towards you and all of a sudden your

towards you and all of a sudden your feet are getting wet and all of a sudden

feet are getting wet and all of a sudden

feet are getting wet and all of a sudden the channel is filling and it was just

the channel is filling and it was just

the channel is filling and it was just amazing to see here we are in this town

amazing to see here we are in this town

amazing to see here we are in this town called san luis rio colorado and there

called san luis rio colorado and there

called san luis rio colorado and there were little kids swimming and playing

were little kids swimming and playing

were little kids swimming and playing and these kids had never seen the river

and these kids had never seen the river

and these kids had never seen the river that had given their town its name and

that had given their town its name and

that had given their town its name and then just on the science I just watching

then just on the science I just watching

then just on the science I just watching life come back you know you can see

life come back you know you can see

life come back you know you can see these micro crustacean

these micro crustacean

these micro crustacean called copepods that had been dormant in

called copepods that had been dormant in

called copepods that had been dormant in the sands of the channel for a decade or

the sands of the channel for a decade or

the sands of the channel for a decade or more and then with the water they come

more and then with the water they come

more and then with the water they come back to life nature is very resilient if

back to life nature is very resilient if

back to life nature is very resilient if we can add some water back life will

we can add some water back life will

we can add some water back life will come back to me that’s one of the most

come back to me that’s one of the most

come back to me that’s one of the most inspiring things about this is that it

inspiring things about this is that it

inspiring things about this is that it looks like we’ve dammed and diverted the

looks like we’ve dammed and diverted the

looks like we’ve dammed and diverted the river is no more the Delta has dried up

river is no more the Delta has dried up

river is no more the Delta has dried up but in fact if we choose to we can begin

but in fact if we choose to we can begin

but in fact if we choose to we can begin to bring these ecosystems back