EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The mighty Colorado River, which sustains more than 30 million people and countless wildlife species in the West, is facing a possible collapse.

Decades of drought, human population growth and development, and the spread of invasive species such as exotic tamarisk and Russian olive have virtually eliminated the vegetation along the river that diverse wildlife populations need to survive.

The river system irrigates 3.5 million acres of farmland and supports people and wildlife including mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, wild turkeys, songbirds, reptiles, amphibians, trout and other fish and raptors such as eagles.

"Nothing in Colorado's landscape is more breathtaking than the winding and forever changing Colorado River, but the health of this vital river's ecosystem is under attack," said Loran Brinkmeier, project biologist for the National Wild Turkey Federation.

To help restore thousands of acres of land near the Colorado River and improve water quality, Marathon Oil Corporation and the NWTF have formed the Western Riparian Alliance. The partnership focuses on restoring riparian areas – or areas near rivers and streams that are vital to wildlife survival – in the Colorado River watershed.

Marathon Oil Corporation committed a total of $400,000 to fund the next three years of the alliance, which will expand to rivers in addition to the Colorado River.

"Many wildlife populations are strong and success stories are numerous thanks to regulated hunting and conservation efforts of local, state, federal agencies, and volunteer support from conservation groups," Brinkmeier said. "This alliance will help keep healthy areas healthy and in the first three years alone projects will be completed to help restore 1,000 acres of riparian corridors and improve thousands of acres in the watershed."

The Colorado River is a true outdoor paradise that offers every kind of outdoor activity imaginable, including fly-fishing, mountain biking, rafting, mountain climbing, camping and hunting. These activities are rich in Colorado heritage and priceless to thousands of people who spend time outdoors. Improvements made to the river will benefit not only wildlife, but also anyone who counts on the river for recreation.

The NWTF's Colorado State Chapter will support this project through its state super fund. In addition, NWTF and Marathon Oil Corporation plan to partner with the Natural Resource Conservation Service, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Tamarisk Coalition and other conservation organizations.

NWTF volunteers, partners, sponsors and staff will work through the NWTF's Southern Great Plains Riparian Initiative, Northern Plains Riparian Restoration Initiative and Energy for Wildlife programs to help restore these areas.

Through the Southern Great Plains Riparian Initiative NWTF project partners restore and maintain wooded zones in the southern Great Plains by assisting landowners and communities with management efforts.

The NWTF and its cooperators have spent $1.3 million to enhance habitat along streams and rivers in the Northern Plains states through the Northern Plains Riparian Restoration Initiative.

The NWTF's Energy for Wildlife program helps the utility industry manage millions of miles of rights-of-way and other properties that could potentially provide ideal habitat for a number of wildlife species. Managing these properties provides great habitat for wild turkeys. Several other wildlife species currently at risk from loss of open habitat also benefit from the program.

The Energy for Wildlife staff works directly with utility companies to integrate wildlife management activities into their land management programs. When participating companies have implemented the wildlife component of their management plans, they will receive a "seal of approval" from the NWTF for their efforts.

For more information, visit www.nwtf.org or call (800) THE-NWTF for details.