"I had just shut my Timelapse camera box when a towering thundercloud unleashed 2 inches of rain in the first half hour of the first storm." photographer Dave Showalter recently shared on Instagram.
For years Dave has worked with hydrologist and passionate riverkeeper Holly Richter to make images of the monsoon season in the San Pedro watershed–one of the many tributaries of the Colorado River. After long stretches of arid weather, towering clouds release powerful rains, making up half the annual moisture for southern Arizona. These deluges create the life-zone biomes of oak and pine woodlands, supporting more than seven thousand species of plants and animals and more than half of North American bird species—a "river of birds"—as Dave likes to say.
Dave's book, Living River: The Promise of the Mighty Colorado, published in 2023, includes the story of the San Pedro - and the heroic efforts of the community to keep the river flowing. Human intervention—groundwater recharge—is necessary for surface water to continue flowing in the San Pedro. But the story isn't finished being written—or photographed—yet.
Thanks to donor support, Braided River continues to support Dave's photographic fieldwork to expand on the visual stories of the Living River, giving public presentations, supporting advocacy groups with photos, stories, books and so much more. The community—city governments, scientists, advocates, and water management groups— are writing this new story together, with Dave continuing to photograph the narrative of a living river, and its protectors every step of the way.
Together, we are working to save this crucial river and its arteries.
Living River = Living Future.
Salmon, Cedar, Rock & Rain—Finalist for Washington State Book Award!
The Washington State Book Awards, which celebrates outstanding books published by Washington authors, honored Salmon, Cedar, Rock & Rain: Washington’s Olympic Peninsula as a General Nonfiction/Biography Finalistthis year!
Congratulations to all the writers and regional photographers who worked so hard to bring the story of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula to life!
Join Braided River at an Event this Fall!
Experience a multimedia journey along the Columbia River with wildlife photographer David Moskowitz, explore the endangered Colorado River with conservation photographer Dave Showalter, and test your knowledge of the Puget Sound at an upcoming event near you!
Thursday, September 12: Big River Leavenworth, WA Event
7:00 PM at the Red Barn or livestream via our YouTube ChannelWednesday, September 18: We Are Puget Sound Trivia Night
6:00 PM at Gig Harbor Wine Co.Tuesday, October 1: Big River Methow, WA Event
7:00 PM at the Winthrop BarnThursday, October 24: Living River Moab, UT Event
7:00 PM at the Moab Grand County Public LibraryThursday, October 31: Living River Tuscon, AZ Event
3:00 PM at the Water Resouces Research Center at the University of ArizonaSunday, November 3: Living River Phoenix, AZ Event
At the Lath Pavilion– timing to be announced
Use Your Voice! Expanding Special Areas in the Western Arctic
Take Action Today! The Biden Administration has called for public input on expanding existing or creating new Special Areas as an evolution of the Administration’s historic step forward in protecting over 13 million acres of America’s breathtaking Western Arctic.
Watch these amazing video interviews from Earth Justice with Rosemary Ahtuangaruak and Robert Thompson to learn more about the importance of protecting these sacred lands and waters.
Make your voice heard and protect the critical lands to ensure the success and survival of Alaska Natives and wildlife before the comment period closes on September 17th.
Photo Credits
Top Photo: Dave Showalter, Living River
Second photo: Salmon, Cedar, Rock & Rain Cover
Third photo: Living River launch event
Fourth photo: Grizzly bears in Teshekpuk Lake Special Area, Florian Schulz