Observed globally, the International Day of Action for Rivers calls attention to the importance of protecting rivers and advancing responsible, community-driven stewardship of water resources. The release of the Voices of the River centers the leadership, values, and lived experiences of Latino communities whose families, livelihoods, and traditions are closely tied to the Colorado River.

Filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada; Moab, Utah; and Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado, the film features faith leaders, community advocates, and local residents reflecting on what the Colorado River means to their families, their work, and their communities, and their efforts to preserve it. The film illustrates how Latino cultural values, faith traditions, and lived experiences inform a strong ethic of stewardship and civic engagement across the Basin.

Participants describe the river as essential to agriculture, local economies, recreation, and spiritual connection. They also speak to the growing challenges facing the river, including drought, declining snowpack, and pollution, and increasing demand — emphasizing that the Colorado River is not limitless and that protecting it requires collective action and responsible management.

“By sharing these stories, the film allows Latino communities to see the many ways people like them are already advocating for and protecting the Colorado River,” said Vanessa Muñoz, Hispanic Access Foundation Watersheds and Waterways Program Manager. “It invites viewers to recognize their own connection to the river and encourages them to learn more, get involved, and help safeguard this vital resource for the future of this vital resource.”

The Colorado River is an economic and ecological backbone of the American West. Its waters serve approximately 40 million people, irrigate 5.5 million acres of farmland, and sustain an economy valued in the trillions of dollars. Roughly one-third of the U.S. Latino population lives within the Colorado River Basin, and many work in sectors — particularly agriculture — that depend directly on reliable water supplies for crop cultivation and food production.

As prolonged drought, declining snowpack, climate change, pollution, and increasing demand place unprecedented strain on the river, Latino communities are among those experiencing the impacts most directly. At the same time, their lived experience and long-standing relationship with the land position them as essential partners in shaping sustainable solutions for the future of the Basin.
“Latino communities are deeply connected to the Colorado River — as workers, business owners, parents, and faith leaders,” said Maite Arce, President and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation. “When our cultural values, community leadership, and lived experience are part of the conversation, we strengthen our collective ability to protect this vital resource and secure a more resilient future for both the river and the communities that depend on it.”
At a time when water resources are under increasing pressue, Voices of the River calls for collaboration rooted in shared responsibility and mutual benefit. Its message is clear: the Colorado River is not an infinite resource, and protecting it requires inclusive leadership and collective action.

Voices of the River: Latino Stories from the Colorado River is available for public viewing at: hispanicaccess.org/CO-River