Change the Course, an initiative of the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), and Legends Global, the premier partner to the world’s greatest live events, venues, and brands, today announced a landmark partnership to create the Legends Global Acts Water Fund.
Launched ahead of World Water Day on March 22, the partnership establishes a mechanism to support water restoration projects across the United States. The initial investment will provide support for a portfolio of projects, restoring 7.5 million gallons of water to water scarce regions. The collaboration underscores a shared commitment to environmental water stewardship, ensuring that local communities remain vibrant and resilient. By prioritizing the restoration of water quantity and quality, Legends Global and Change the Course are taking a proactive stance on water scarcity to protect ecosystems and deliver lasting environmental and social benefits.
“Water is one of the most critical resources for the communities where our venues operate, particularly across the Western United States where water scarcity continues to intensify,” said Lindsay Arell, Chief Sustainability Officer for Legends Global. “Through our partnership with Change the Course, the new Legends Global Acts Water Fund helps align our operations with watershed restoration and conservation with plans to expand projects across North America in the years ahead.”
“Change the Course was designed to facilitate collective water resilience solutions that help create long-term, livable communities and a more sustainable water future,” said Sara Hoversten, Director of Business for Water Stewardship at BEF. “Partnering with Legends Global around the Legends Global Acts Water Fund helps us drive collective support for community-developed and community-led water stewardship projects that deliver ecological, social, and economic resiliency.”
The initial investment will support water restoration across three mission-based programs including:
San Saba River in Texas. Photo courtesy Change the Course.
San Saba River Restoration Project (Texas): The San Saba River in the Texas Hill Country is a cornerstone of the regional economy, lifestyle, and cultural identity. Water scarcity driven by more frequent and prolonged drought conditions as well as increased development have resulted in reduced streamflow. Environmental Water Environmental Water Transactions (EWTs) are an important conservation tool for restoring and maintaining flow in Texas rivers in the face of rising water demands and scarcity.
Lined canal in operation at heading discharge culvert. Photo courtesy Change the Course.
Colorado River Indian Tribes Farm Improvement (Arizona/California Border): The Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) Drip Irrigation and Canal Lining Conversion projects are designed to convert less efficient irrigation methods to precision drip irrigation and canal lining on 1600 acres of Colorado River Indian Tribes agricultural lands. These projects help reduce conveyance loss, more efficiently and reliably deliver water for irrigation, and reduce demand at the CRIT Point of Diversion on the Colorado River.
Aerial of Merced County Seasonal Wetlands in California. Photo courtesy Change the Course.
Merced County Seasonal Wetland Habitat (Merced County, California): Through innovative practices such as the flooding, gradual drawdown of seasonal wetlands during spring, and water rights transactions, the project will provide 2,000 acres of crucial habitat for peak shorebird migration.
