Mission
The mission of Windy River Institute (WRI) 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 today and the coming projected population of the future in the completion of the I-11 Corridor of Arizona by 2020
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. 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)”
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.
To spark the vision, WRI has been working since 1998 to develop plans for 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.
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.
Windy River Institute since 1998
