Poudre and Colorado Rivers Update: Can Artificial Intelligence Help Protect Our Rivers?

Hi Friends of Freer-Flowing Rivers in Colorado and Beyond,

The whole world seems to be talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the trillions of dollars it is both demanding and creating. At the same, time, there is an explosion in the ways that AI is being used in the field of environmental conservation that we’ve been tracking closely to see if there’s a role for us to use AI to make a difference protecting rivers.

Before I get to that, I want to give you some updates on how Save The Poudre, Save The Colorado, and Save The World’s Rivers are going to operate in 2026.

After January 1st, both Save The Poudre and Save The Colorado are legally “merging” into Save The World’s Rivers. We will consolidate our non-profit corporations to streamline expenditures and be more effective. If you’re a member of Save The Poudre, you will no longer receive emails through “mailchimp,” but rather through this email sender. Both Save The Colorado and Save The World’s Rivers emails will remain and look the same.

All three websites — Save The Poudre, Save The Colorado, and Save The World’s Rivers — will still operate the same, as will all three donation pages. The only visible change will be that Save The Poudre and Save The Colorado will now be “programs” of Save The World’s Rivers. You’ll still see my face and name on everything as we paddle forward into 2026 working to protect rivers here in Colorado and Beyond.

So, what are our plans for 2026?

First, Save The Poudre will likely make a couple important and positive announcements in the coming months about how the $100 million “Poudre River Improvement Fund” (PRIF) will operate. In addition, we will be working hard to support our three great volunteer members of the PRIF, including our fearless leader and boardmenber, Mark Easter. We’re optimistic that the future of the Poudre will be more ecologically healthy and include more recreational opportunities from Gateway Park in the Canyon all the way downstream to Eastman Park in Windsor. Your support has made all the difference in the past, and we will keep pressing forward to fulfill our mission, and your vision, in 2026. An important reminder that Save The Poudre does not receive any of the $100 million — it will ALL be spent on the Poudre River itself.

Second, Save The Colorado will continue its important work of addressing the threat of new dams and diversions across the Southwest U.S. As the Colorado River’s health collapses and the state negotiators struggle to reach an agreement on how to manage the River, our work to address the threat of more dams and diversions is as important as ever. We will also continue pushing our “Rights of Nature for Rivers” program forward, as well as advocating for major structural changes (like decommissioning!) at Glen Canyon Dam. While Rights of Nature and changes to Glen Canyon Dam are longterm visionary efforts, it’s just these types of consequential systemic changes that the Colorado River needs to be sustainable in the future. In January, we will also have an exciting announcement about our work on state water rights in Colorado (hint: it involves the Shoshone power plant instream flow right :-)).

Finally, Save The World’s Rivers continues to branch out across the U.S. and beyond. In 2026, we’ll be announcing a coalition effort in California we are engaging in, as well as the beginning of a program to support more “Wild River National Parks” across the planet. We were thrilled to visit the first Wild River National Park on the Vjosa River in Albania last year, and we hope to be announcing a campaign for another Wild River National Park in Asia soon in 2026. So stay tuned for all of that fun!

Oh, and what about Artificial Intelligence? We are learning as much as possible to try and be as effective as possible in our river conservation work. Check out this new blog on our website, “Can Artificial Intelligence Help Protect and Restore Rivers?” (Click here to read it) The field is exploding and we like to be at the cutting edge of everything we do. The answer is “Yes, AI can help protect rivers,” and we hope to be engaging more in 2026.

It’s SOLELY YOUR SUPPORT that keeps us paddling forward. We are a small, grassroots, people-powered river-conservation organization and your support is the power behind our paddles.

You can donate online by clicking here. 

Enjoy the New Year and Happy Holidays,

Gary Wockner