Sometimes to save a river, you have to buy it.
In an effort protect critical salmon habitat and prime open space in Washington's scenic Methow Valley, WRC conserved two ranches, one on the Chewuch River and another on the Methow, pictured here.
Photography | Ellen Bishop 
Looking down the John Day River canyon, downstream of Thirtymile Creek, where WRC protected a critical boating access site and over 16,000 acres of riverlands.
Photography | Tom and Pat Leeson 
In 2018, WRC created the San Luis Hills State Wildlife Area in partnership with Costilla County, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and others, protecting 17,019 acres of prime wildlife habitat and 4.5 miles of the upper Rio Grande.
Photography | Russ Schnitzer 
Blue Creek flows cold and clear from high in the Siskiyou Mountains of northern California and meets the Klamath River 16 miles upstream from the mouth. It is the first source of cold water that salmon and steelhead encounter on their migration inland and provides these fish a critical cold-water refuge so they can complete their journeys inland to spawn. It is the lifeline to the Klamath River in the heart of the California redwoods.
Photography | Dave Jensen
Featured Project
01
John Day River
The John Day River looms large in the minds of conservationists and river enthusiasts. It is the Pacific Northwest’s longest undammed river and one of the longest Wild and Scenic River corridors.
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Featured Project
02
Snake River
Western Rivers Conservancy had the rare opportunity to conserve four miles of the Snake River and to protect some of the most important bighorn sheep habitat in the Pacific Northwest.
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Featured Project
03
Upper Rio Grande
In the heart of Colorado’s high San Luis Valley, Western Rivers Conservancy is working to protect tens of thousands of acres of fish and wildlife habitat along the Rio Grande and key tributaries like the Conejos and Rio de Los Pinos.
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Explore WRC
About
Learn more about our impact and why we buy land along rivers. Meet the WRC staff and board, read our annual reports and meet the partners who help us get the job done.
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Give
Help WRC buy land along great rivers around the West to protect habitat for fish and wildlife and create public access for all.
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Discover
Read the blog, download newsletters, explore rivers you love (or never knew existed). Learn more about WRC’s conservation efforts across the West.
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Projects
WRC buys and conserves land along rivers throughout the American West. Learn more about our projects, state by state, from Washington to California, Oregon to Colorado, and beyond.
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