Windy River Institute Mission
The Windy River Institute is an organization advocating and transforming Mohave County, Arizona and, in particular as catalyst, the Lower Colorado River Valley from Laughlin Bullhead to Needles and beyond to Lake Havasu into a showcase for earth-friendly, renewable and sustainable products, services and building technologies. We believe our area can become a model for regional scale sustainable development worldwide.
Our mission is to create a vision and strategy for environmentally themed, progressive, economically viable waterfront development along the lower Colorado River, that services the resident population of 2009 and the coming projected population of the future in the completion of the Sierra Vista Corridor of Arizona by 2020. For the river communities including: Topock,
Kingman, Golden Valley, Needles, Aha Macav, Fort Mojave, Mohave Valley, Bullhead City, Golden Shores, and Laughlin. An expanded tourism destination, a year round city center, and cultural hub for the Tri state area on the banks of the Colorado will act as catalyst for the development strategies of the tri state region..
Our vision: A Sustainable Future
We believe in a sustainable future, one in which we have a conscious coexistence with our planet, sensitivity to our surroundings, and intelligent use of resources.
Many Americans share our belief; many have recognized that our survival will require shifts in our values, in our sense of ownership and personal impact, and in our lifestyles. As our collective values start to shift, there is ample opportunity to put our buildings, environments
and cities to work to "do good," not only in areas of green design and sustainability, but also in areas of healing and community-building.
But if this "good design" is to be successful, it must also be good for business. Paul Hawken, founder of Smith & Hawken, in his book “Natural Capitalism” describes "a future in which business and environmental interests increasingly overlap.”
The Opportunity: Strategic Sustainable Transformation
WRI is inspired by the idea that economic and environmental interests can overlap, and in which businesses can better satisfy their customers' needs, increase profits, and help solve environmental problems all at the same time.
"The approach to regional scale sustainable development works with market forces, rather than against them. This is called strategic sustainable transformation and prescribed by the Sate of Arizona in its “Investment strategy for a Sustainable Systems Industry for Arizona (Battelle Study 04)”
Why the Lower Colorado River Valley? The Colorado River Valley is a beautiful natural
resource, and a prime target for commercial development. Strategic sustainable development will protect the area and promote it as an eco-tourist destination.
Bullhead City, Arizona is at the center of the region and acts as a gateway to the Lake Mohave Recreation Area, which is just up the river. Lake Mead, Lake Mohave and the surrounding lands are recognized as invaluable natural resources that are facing many environmental challenges. To the north of Bullhead City is historic Old Bullhead, which sits directly across the river from prosperous and highly developed Laughlin, Nevada. Laughlin presently attracts nearly 5 million visitors a year to its gambling venue and river recreation and is home to 12 casinos that generate an estimated 20 million dollars per year in net revenue. However the destination is not year round, and services only a narrow part of the niche market already established by the gaming and recreation.
Our goal is to identify opportunities in the Lower Colorado River Valley for historic preservation and new construction along a sustainability and eco-tourism theme. This development approach will involve local, regional and national constituents who will work In support of an eco-tourist vision. We will develop with them working models for earth-conscious commercial ventures ,create hundreds of jobs in education , cultural venues, life style amenities and environmental exhibits and expanded Colorado experiences.
Over time, the principles employed in these "seed" projects will have an effect on the
community and act as a business catalyst, helping the tri state area attract the new ”Green Economy “ business sector for regional growth while using these new technologies and strategies for resource management and smart growth to emerge as a “NEW DESERT MEGAPOLITAN” that completes the Sierra Vista Sun Corridor of Arizona. This strategy will be manifest in the way houses are built, in the way businesses do business, and in the way businesses and individuals learn to cooperate instead of compete for our increasingly scarce natural resources.
As the project grows and population increases, WRI looks to begin to create an environment where progressive sustainable strategic planning and adoption of renewable technoloqles into the built environment will make the public aware of the success and accessibility of each of the technologies employed.
To spark the vision, WRI has been working since 1998 to develop plans to such a tri state catalyst and create a destination environment - an earth-conscious, ecologically sensitive commercial eco-park - that can be aggressively marketed to generate tourist and local trade. The eco-park development plan links riverfront land parcels; Davis Camp, AZ State Trust Lands, Old Original Bullhead City, and BLM in a cohesive city center tourism year round venue. This plan provides shopping, dining, education, as well as support venues for arts and alternative entertainment.
WRI has undertaken, for the past 12 years, the process of researching the potential of such a concept for the region at this location on the Colorado
To develop a world class waterfront that acts as a spectacular entrance to Bullhead City, Mohave County and the state of Arizona and expands the tourism venue that is the one season of Laughlin NV, by completing the destination equation of Bullhead Laughlin. This new environmentally themed eco-park would encourage preservation of the riverfront and bring new visitors and revenue to both the community and the region. WRI further believes It would also act as a catalyst for sustainable development throughout the region.
Our Work
WRI has been promoting a Green Sustaianble agenda for some 12 years and continues to provide venues for rigourous dialogue about the future of the region and its potential opportunities in the new “Green Economy”
Windy River Institute since 1998
The Personal Sustainability Advocacy of Melanie DeBo Stauffer.
Relentless advocacy for Sustainability in emerging Green market opportunities
“The Unofficial Green Chamber of Commerce in Mohave County Arizona”
Providing leadership in Community Capacity building through the Colorado River Development Symposium series since 2001.
Identifying opportunities for Economic development.
Conceptualizing sustainable projects of importance to the emerging tri state area in the area of Eco Tourism on Colorado River.
Providing research and support in Smart Growth Green Housing Development; new and retrofit.
Working with NAU and ASU to bring university participation to region.
Advocating Individual Entrepreneurial opportunities in the new Green Economy.
WRI is promoting and soliciting help to fund ASU’s “Decision Theater” technology in a permanent installation to Mohave County
Results
WRI believes our work can be catalytic. We hope to create a living, breathing, healthy
sustainable environment where as many people as possible can learn about green issues, and experience the pleasures and benefits of living a green lifestyle. In the process, we believe our work will lead to changing the way our region develops its land, its architecture and Its tourist facilities, and that it will have a long-term positive economic, social and cultural impact that can be replicated elsewhere.
We are actively seeking the participation of forward-looking, ecologically minded individuals, developers, and corporations, to fund the market research, education and feasibility studies necessary to make our dream a reality.
By supporting us, you have an opportunity to participate in the creation of a new, strategic
approach to regional-scale sustainable development. This approach puts sustainable products and services directly in front of America's consumers, many of whom have a growing interest in purchasing green products and participating in an eco-conscious and wellness lifestyle.
For more information, or to find out how you can support WRI, please contact Melanie DeBo.
