By Matt Young

Facing water shortages and rampant development, the wetlands of the Intermountain West are among North America's most imperiled waterfowl habitats

Once labeled the Great American Desert by 18th century geographers, the dry and rugged Intermountain West might seem an unlikely place to find marshes teeming with waterfowl. However, in a few special areas of this arid region, where torrents of mountain runoff flood fertile valley lowlands or broad shallow basins with life-giving water, highly productive wetlands spring to life.

The scarcity of water in the Intermountain West makes these habitats particularly vital to waterfowl and other migratory birds. During the spring and fall, they serve as rest stops for an estimated 12 to 18 million migrating ducks, geese, and swans, as well as equally impressive numbers of shorebirds, raptors, and neotropical songbirds. The region also supports significant numbers of breeding ducks, including the majority of North America's cinnamon teal.

The wetlands of the Intermountain West face many threats, foremost among them declining water quality and quantity. During the past decade, rampant human population growth has caused a dramatic rise in the demand for water, and competition for limited water supplies will only increase as more people settle in the region. The continued expansion of many other forms of development, including urban sprawl, power generation, and mining, also present significant challenges to the region's wetlands and waterfowl.

Given the great importance of western wetlands, DU has launched a new initiative to conserve these critical habitats. In cooperation with several government agencies, foundations, corporations, and other conservation organizations, DU's Intermountain West Initiative is working to conserve wetlands and associated uplands throughout Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and parts of California and Oregon. DU and its partners carefully target their conservation efforts in the most valuable and threatened wetland ecosystems in the Intermountain West.