The Colorado River is often correctly called the hardest working river in the United States. From its headwaters in Colorado and Wyoming, to Mexico’s Gulf of California, the river is a source of water for nearly 40 million people and 4 million acres of irrigated farm and ranch lands. A whopping $1.4 trillion of economic activity depends on a healthy Colorado River, roughly 20% of the U.S. GDP.

And yet with each day, we learn more about the challenges facing the river, from the persistent drought to climate change to increasing pressure from development. Clearly what we need are creative solutions for what is becoming a new normal for water management in the West. And these solutions cannot come from just the federal government alone. They must involve mayors, farmers, ranchers, water managers, sportsmen, recreational interests, scientists, conservationists—in short all those who have a stake in a healthy Colorado River.

That is why I am encouraged by today’s announcement from the Obama Administration to improve coordination within the departments of Interior and Agriculture for additional federal funding to support community water delivery systems and infrastructure as well as on-farm water conservation practices and improvements.

A coalition of sportsmen and conservation groups applauded the announcement as an “important step toward addressing the drought in the West and protecting communities, wildlife habitat, recreation and limited water resources in the Colorado River Basin.”

Later this week, I will be in Indianapolis at the annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting to discuss the need for creative solutions to meet the demand for water in the West. At the Walton Family Foundation, we believe that conservation solutions that make economic sense are the ones that stand the test of time. Working together, at all levels and across the public and private sectors, we can ensure a healthy Colorado River for generations to come.