At Western Rivers Conservancy, we believe that to conserve a river, you first have to think in terms of “forever.” It’s clear that our supporters believe this as well. With your help, 2011 was an extraordinary year for river conservation. WRC permanently protected more than 40,000 acres and 54 river miles along six of the finest rivers in California, Colorado, Oregon and Utah.

Highlights of our accomplishments include:

Conserving 16,000 acres along 16 miles of the lower John Day River to create Oregon’s newest state park, Cottonwood Canyon. The park is scheduled to open in 2013. Photo by David Jensen.

Protecting 22,237 acres and more than 34 square miles of land along the lower Klamath River in order to re-create California’s Yurok Tribal homeland and restore the river’s historic salmon runs. Photo by Rick Hiser.

Expanding an internationally important bird stop-over on the Central Flyway by conveying 580 acres to Utah’s Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. Photo by USFWS.

Preserving 617 acres of critically important habitat along Colorado’s Gunnison River for rare, desert, warm-water fish. Photo by Rich Durnan.

Continuing to assemble a 5,000-acre wild and recreation area in Oregon’s Sandy River basin by protecting 245 acres along Boulder Creek, one of the basin’s most critical fish streams. Photo by Peter Marbach.

As demonstrated by these projects, the lands we purchase are forever conserved as sanctuaries for fish, wildlife and people. There is still time to make a contribution before the end of the year. If you’d like to make a donation to conserve the West’s greatest rivers, please call us at 503-241-0151 or visit www.westernrivers.org.