Photo by George C. Budd

Photo by Paul Brewer

By DEB CALDWELL
Executive Director
Friends of Bosque del Apache NWR

Friends of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge invites you to join a very important campaign we have just launched, called Water for the Wild, to repair and strengthen the aging water infrastructure systems that carry life-giving water to the refuge wetlands. In an arid landscape, these unseen “lifelines” make every crane-filled sunrise and every migration along the Central Flyway possible.

Water is the lifeblood of our wetlands—when the flow falters, so does the wild

For thousands of years, Bosque del Apache has been an oasis along the Rio Grande portion of the Central Flyway — sustained by carefully guided water in an arid land. Any of you who have visited Bosque del Apache know that it’s a riparian gem that shares its special magic with us each season. Every season, every wingbeat, every annual migration depends on one essential truth:

When water flows, life flourishes

But in the Southwest, water does not simply arrive. It must be carefully delivered, directed, and sustained through a network of gates, channels, and control structures — the arterial lifelines that carry this life-giving water to the wetlands.

Many of these systems have worked tirelessly for decades. Today, they are aging and increasingly strained by extended drought and rising temperatures. At Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, we are working to strengthen these waterways and maximize every available drop — ensuring water reaches the habitats that so desperately depend on it.

Right now, a generous foundation is offering a matching grant to help repair aging water infrastructure systems, which means that every gift will go further. If you feel inspired, we hope you’ll consider making a contribution to help keep the water flowing for wildlife and for all of us who treasure this place. You can learn more (and see some gorgeous photos) at https://friendsofbosquedelapache.org/water-for-the-wild/

You can help keep the water flowing

Thanks to a generous matching gift, every dollar you give today will go even farther!

By April 1, we aim to raise $75,000, unlocking an additional $25,000 to accelerate critical repairs and upgrades.

Our goals for this year:

• $75,000 by April 1 (Match Deadline)
• $125,000 by Dec 1 (to unlock a second $25K Match Deadline)

Together, we can rebuild the lifelines that sustain Bosque del Apache’s critical wetlands—visit https://friendsofbosquedelapache.org/water-for-the-wild/

Every donation is secure, tax-deductible, and unlocks matching funds!

Your gift keeps the water flowing—and the wild returning

Your gift—large, medium, small, or ongoing—ensures:

• Water reaches fields during the growing season, providing food and safety to the flocks in winter
• Birds can find reliable roosting areas and refuge
• Migration stopovers along the Rio Grande/Central Flyway remain healthy and viable
• Wildlife has access to clean, life-sustaining water

This year, we are rebuilding the lifelines that deliver water to the heart of the wetlands at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, ensuring that hundreds of species of animals and plants, as well as the hundreds of thousands of visitors who sojourn to this refuge every year, can continue to thrive along the Central Flyway.

Join us by making your gift today at https://friendsofbosquedelapache.org/water-for-the-wild/

Every donation is secure, tax-deductible, and unlocks matching funds!

About Friends of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

Founded in 1993, Friends has grown into a nonprofit organization of more than one thousand members spread across the US and the world. Friends is the only organization that provides substantial financial and organizational support to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, literally changing the refuge’s appearance and effectiveness. Friends raises funds for refuge needs, advocates for relevant conservation issues, builds critical partnerships, and provides funding for environmental education and research.

Friends runs programs and events like Festival of the Cranes to promote appreciation and conservation of wildlife and habitat.