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Securing Utah's Balanced Water Future in a Climate Change World

 

Join Part 1: Wednesday, March 16 Join Part 2: Friday, March 18 

Part 1: Wednesday, March 16, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Part 2: Friday, March 18, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Presented by the Utah Rivers Council featuring: 

Zach Frankel, Executive Director
Nick Halberg, Research & Policy Analyst
Lindsey Hutchison, Water Policy Associate

Climate Change threatens Utah's water supplies, ecosystems and economies, but simple solutions exist to avoid or mitigate these threats. There are numerous opportunities in Utah to implement a range of policies and programs to improve the governance of our water resources, rivers and lakes.

The 2021 drought is part of a decades-long trend that climate change is placing on Utah's rivers, lakes, reservoirs, farms and cities. Many water bodies fell to their lowest levels in recorded history in 2021, and the trend is projected to continue. Informed policy leaders and the public have a much better chance of implementing sustainable water policies. 

Many policy leaders and others have little idea what climate change holds for Utah's water future or how to adapt to this new world. In this workshop we will cover the science, policy and politics; providing a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities before us.

In our time together, you will learn how we use water, who manages it, what policy options are available, and what successful strategies other Western states are utilizing to adapt to the pressures climate change is putting on water resources. You will also come away with a 360 degree understanding of what our water future can look like, and how you can make a significant difference in Utah's water future! 

We will explore four topics:

  1. Water supply governance and pricing policies;
  2. Climate change science and aquatic ecosystem services/impacts; 
  3. Water conservation and barriers to sustainable water policy in Utah;
  4. Utah watershed case studies, including the Great Salt Lake and Lake Powell.

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