Water in the West: An Introduction for Land Trusts
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About This Event
Nothing unites the diverse landscapes of the American West like water. Often too scarce, sometimes too abundant, always contested — water is the fundamental determinant of ecological and human health across our region.
Land trusts across the West recognize they need to take a rigorous and holistic approach to water in their conservation planning and delivery. But do you and your organization feel uncertain where to start? With help from experts in water policy, law and science, this course will offer background, resources and approaches to working with water with through the perspective of western land trusts. The course will provide background on the historical, legal and policy context for how the West’s water came to be developed, allocated and used. It will offer an overview of how climate change is amplifying existing challenges and creating new ones. We’ll highlight opportunities and approaches for Western land trusts to address water at the project, program and organization levels.
This course is intended as a focused introduction to this vast topic, an entry point for staff, board and volunteers.
This course will be held virtually from 9:30 — 11 a.m. Pacific time on Oct. 24, Oct. 31, Nov. 8 and Nov. 15. The course goals are
Session 1 | Oct. 24
Introductions and background.
Overview of water resource development in the west.
How land trusts are addressing water resources in land protection, restoration and stewardship.
Session 2 | Oct. 31
Setting strategy and goals for water resource protection.
Working with water: understanding and valuing water rights, writing deed language for water rights, considering groundwater.
Funding opportunities and policy advocacy.
Session 3 | Nov. 8
Toward a land trust water agenda.
Profile of a land trust addressing water through creative partnerships.
Collaboration and system-level strategies.
Our shared water future.
Session 4 | Nov. 15
Profile of a land trust evolving its focus on water.
Regional breakout discussion groups.
Getting going: planning for water work.
What’s next: identifying future needs.
Course presenters
Laura Ziemer, of counsel, Culp and Kelly LLP
Michelle Smith, Water Project Manager, Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts
Sarah Parmar, director of conservation, Colorado Openlands
Aaron Citron, associate director of external Affairs, The Nature Conservancy, Colorado Program
Celene Hawkins, Colorado River tribal water project manager, The Nature Conservancy
Kelly Watkinson, land and climate program manager, Land Trust Alliance
Marcie Bidwell, Southwest program manager, Land Trust Alliance
Brad Paymar, West division director, Land Trust Alliance
Bob Neale, California program manager, Land Trust Alliance
Natasha Bellis, conservation director, Deschutes Land Trust
Kathleen Hitt, executive director, Siskiyou Land Trust
Leslie Ratley-Beach, conservation defense director, Land Trust alliance
The cost of this training is $315 per person, but thanks to the generous support of the Volgenau Foundation and other anonymous foundation donors, your cost is $75 as an Alliance member or $100 for non-members.
Registrants for this event will have access to all recordings after the live session on this page when they log in.
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