In this issue: BASIN, > Hope for the Colorado n page 2 RANGE & RIMROCK Science in the Desert n page 4 Stewards of the Lake n page 10 summer 2013 Newsletter n chapter

photo: James Kay www.jameskay.com 1 BASIN, RANGE & RIMROCK / summer 2013 Conservation Corner A Critical Count Board of Trustees

Chair: John D’Arcy As readers may notice, this issue Jennifer Speers Tim Dee Stephen E. Denkers features a new look for Basin, Range Vice Chair: Richard Denman Christopher Robinson Jeff Edison & Rimrock. Of course, this remains Don Garner Honorary Co-Chairs: Mary Garner your biannual source for news about Ian Cumming Clark Giles Susan Denkers Hank Hemingway the Utah Chapter, but we’re trying out Zeke Dumke, Jr. Carolyn Tanner Irish Spencer Eccles Ted Jacobsen a few design changes to bring you David Gardner Kim Kimball Jake Garn Linda Leckman even more pictures and stories from M. Walker Wallace Kathryn Lindquist Jim MacMahon our conservation work throughout Campaign Co-Chairs: Kathie Miller Norma Matheson Nalini Nadkarni the state. We’ve also added a special John Milliken Maunsel Pearce Ellen Rossi emphasis on hearing from the many Trustees: Miguel Rovira Teresa Beck Betsy Thornton people, like you, who are helping in Alexis Cairo Scott Thornton Lynn Cardey-Yates Bruce Waddell so many different ways to protect photo: Gary Crandall Jim Clark LaVarr Webb Utah’s lands and waters. Take a look, With help from a group of local birding Lasting Results and let us know what you think of the experts, this spring the Conservancy began an important bird survey at the new format. You can share your thoughts Utah Private Lands Protection Great Salt Lake, which could shed new by emailing us at [email protected]. Number of Projects...... 164 light on potential impacts from the Total Acres Protected. . . 1,138,380 proposed West Davis Corridor. We’ll be Utah Public Lands Protection sharing final results in our next issue, but you can learn more now at Number of Projects...... 40 nature.org/Utah. Total Acres Protected. . . .130,063 Total Acres Protected. . 1,268,443 Total Utah Membership . . . 5,394 the nature conservancy utah / nature.org 2 From the Director

As a “long-distance runner” prudently stewarding our natural resources, in the race to conserve Utah’s lands and we’ve always wanted to “add just one more cow.” waters, I sometimes step back and ponder But there are signs of change: the how far we’ve come and how far we still need Governor and Chamber of Commerce are to travel. What are the limits of growth and talking about air quality. Local communities conservation? What behaviors are at the root are embracing Envision Utah planning of the challenges we face? My thoughts often strategies. Lawmakers and industry are lead me to Garrett Hardin’s 1968 essay, The acknowledging the clear economic benefits Tragedy of the Commons. of a healthy Great Salt Lake. Congressman to understand the essay’s basic concept, Rob Bishop has launched an effort to “bring imagine an agricultural community where resolution to challenging land disputes.” ranchers graze cattle on a common pasture. And there is more: at this April’s Stegner Over time, individuals add “just a few Symposium at the , Elder Dave Livermore more cows” than they have been allotted Marcus Nash made an inspiring call for better Executive Director by rationalizing: “this is such a big pasture, stewardship—a rare statement from the LDS The Nature Conservancy in Utah surely just a few more cows won’t hurt.” Church on the environment. When everyone adds cows, the common Developing a better sense of stewardship pasture becomes overgrazed, eroded and is is at the core of the conservation movement. “Unbridled consumption is not consistent with ultimately ruined. To paraphrase Hardin, “If We can legislate better stewardship by passing God’s plan…Despoiling nature is almost always all individuals act in rational self-interest, laws. We can show stewardship makes sense a result of selfishness…We are all stewards, not and use common resources for their own economically. We can even try to popularize owners, and we will be accountable to God for gain, with no regard for others, all resources better stewardship. But the role of faith how we use his creation…Our test on this Earth is will eventually be depleted. A tragedy of the communities in helping us heal the Earth and whether we will choose wisely and follow God and commons will take place.” avoid the “tragedy of the commons” cannot be treat His creations with respect…The better we here in Utah, we have been slow to overstated. For conservationists, Elder Nash’s care for the Earth, the better it will care for us.” acknowledge the “tragedy of the commons.” address was a speech “heard round the world.” Maybe it’s our frontier heritage, or the This spring, more than tulips blossomed on Elder Marcus B . Nash, First Quorum of the Seventy, vastness of our Great Basin home, or our Temple Square. Thanks to Elder Nash, a new The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bristling at being told what to do. Rather than sense of stewardship began to flower as well.

3 BASIN, RANGE & RIMROCK / spring 2013 photo: Colorado River © Tom Till the nature conservancy utah / nature.org 4 the past year has seen the national country or pumping diminishing aquifers. These River’s Edge spotlight intensify for the Colorado modern management options are also cheaper, River, as this “lifeblood of the West” faces faster and easier to implement than a costly mounting pressures. “What I want people to pipeline and large, energy-guzzling de-salter understand is that there is hope,” said Hawes. plants. We recognize we must meet growing One shining example of this hope came water demand needs, but we need to do so in a in the form of unprecedented policy change at way that works for cities, agriculture, industry the highest levels. Just before the basin study and nature.” was released, the United States and Mexico with 12 demonstration sites on the Colorado reached an historic agreement to rejoin the River and its tributaries, the Conservancy is Colorado River to the Sea of Cortez and uniquely poised to influence decision-makers by define how the two countries will share the sharing knowledge and science gained through Taylor Hawes, the river’s resources in the face of increasing on-the-ground work. “Our projects in states like Conservancy’s Colorado demands for water and decreasing supplies. Utah are where river conservation becomes real,” River Program Director, “This agreement is about a sustainable said Hawes. “At these sites, local people whose lives sees hope as the river’s plight gains attention. future. By beginning to restore the delta, we depend on this water become engaged in solutions teinberg Photography photo: © Jim S teinberg are demonstrating that there’s great promise that truly make a difference for their community.” for healthy rivers throughout the Colorado In Utah, that means work on the Colorado “The reality is that the demands already River basin,” explains Hawes. “We’re itself as well as its tributaries, tackling issues such outstrip the river supply. Something’s got to give.” developing and demonstrating solutions that as providing river managers with new information that’s Taylor Hawes, the Conservancy’s Colorado River benefit nature while meeting the needs of on future flows and climate in Grand County, Program Director, reacting back in December to the river basin people for generations to come.” to fighting invasives in the Escalante River study that issued a dire warning for communities depending a willingness to take on new strategies— watershed and studying flows and fish species on the Colorado. Results of the Bureau of Reclamation study and to break free of “old-school” approaches recovery on the Virgin in Washington County. were stark: There will not be enough water in the river in to river management—is the driving force “What’s promising is that we have people’s the near future to meet demands for drinking water, crops, behind the Conservancy’s Colorado River attention and the attention of decision-makers ranching, tourism, energy and business—and that’s without Program. “Water is so precious in the West and leaders,” said Hawes. “Now there is a desire accounting for another 25 million people who will rely on this that throughout history, we have fought over to get ahead of the crisis and develop solutions river by 2060. every drop,” said Hawes. “The Conservancy for managing the river in an adaptive way. If we “None of us who work on the river were really surprised is working with partners and policy makers to can do this, the next generation will thank us.” by the study’s findings,” explains Hawes, “but I think what’s support modern river management options to learn more about the Conservancy’s important is that it put all of us on the same page in terms of that allow us to live within our means rather Colorado River program, visit nature.org/ taking actions now.” than taking water from another part of the coloradoriver

5 BASIN, RANGE & RIMROCK / summer 2013 photo: Bear River © Steve Mulligan the nature conservancy utah / nature.org 6 Climate change adaptation workshops New Climate, New enable conservationists and land managers Strategies to take actions now to adapt to climate pressures, like those unfolding on the Bear River.

The hottest 10 years in Earth’s recorded history have (SWCCI) in 2008 to help answer questions like these, and it has since been all occurred since 1990. The reasons why have been debated and politicized, but replicated in states throughout the West, helping conservationists find practical ways the fact remains: Our world is getting warmer. “This problem is widely known,” to sustain wildlife in hotter habitats. Joan Degiorgio, the Utah Chapter’s Northern says Chris Montague, the Conservancy in Utah’s Director of Conservation, “but Mountains Regional Director, organized a Utah-focused workshop in 2010. understanding how we adapt is really just in its early stages. This workshop is “Our Utah/ Bear River workshop compelled us to pay extra attention to where the rubber hits the road.” species that were already under stress that would have the most trouble adapting conservationists from all over the West met in this spring to hotter temperatures, like the Bonneville cutthroat trout,” says Degiorgio. for a Climate Change Adaptation Workshop, where they discussed ways to “They are very sensitive to temperature changes in the Bear River. The workshop develop practical solutions to help complex, at-risk ecosystems adapt to a convinced us to take a closer look at the trout and initiate barrier projects to give warming world. the fish more room to move around and find cooler places to live.” For example, 2001-2010 was the warmest and driest decade for the “four excited by this type of real-world outcome from her 2010 workshop, corners” states since at least the turn of the twentieth century. Among other Degiorigo helped organize this year’s SWCCI workshop in Salt Lake City, at issues, this has led to late season snowpack declining significantly and snowmelt which participants tackled climate adaptation issues for landscapes ranging from occurring earlier and earlier each year, forest dieback, wildfires occurring more the mountains of Alaska and the Alta Ski Area down to the New Mexico desert. frequently and with greater ferocity, changes in river and stream flows (which “Climate change can feel overwhelming to everyone, including change the way riparian and aquatic habitats develop), and on, and on. How can conservationists,” said Dave Livermore, the Conservancy’s Utah State Director. land managers mitigate the damages of such a large-scale shift? “These workshops are important to spread around the world, in every the Conservancy initiated the Southwest Climate Change Initiative community, with people finding practical ways to solve very real issues.”

7 BASIN, RANGE & RIMROCK / summer 2013 photo: Canyonlands Research Center pavilion © Scot Zimmerman the nature conservancy utah / nature.org 8 benefits the next generation, and these are the Science Blooms people who will sustain the vision of this project and place long after many of us ‘old-timers’ are gone.” in the Desert Based at the Dugout Ranch in southeast Utah, the Center’s new facilities offer housing and lab space for researchers to study the heart

of the , and develop solutions C to preserve the region’s natural resources. This ground-breaking initiative turns the Dugout Ranch, its grazing allotments and adjacent public land, into a vast outdoor laboratory, where the

impacts of a changing climate can be measured, photo: Ian Mathias/ TN understood… and where people can learn to adapt. Research that Matters “We’re working with Canyonlands National As scientists from all over the country Park, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. break in the new bunks and lab space at The red rocks stood silent, Forest Service, Utah Division of Wildlife the Canyonlands Research Center, the omnipresent. Their ridges pierced an azure sky. A Resources, scientists from Utah State University, results of their visits are already making a cool, spring breeze tousled new leaves and slipped US Geological Survey, Utah Climate Center, difference. One exciting example involves playfully under jackets. And young hands dug NASA and NOAA, as well as long-time ranchers, research in an area of the ranch called Beef deep into the warm soil. The morning of May 2nd Heidi Redd and her sons.” Basin, where managers from the Bureau marked an important milestone for the Canyonlands the diversity of partners reflects the need of Land Management (BLM) and the Utah Research Center, and the Dugout Ranch. and hunger for new strategies to sustain this Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) are Five people—all under the age of 40—and all region. Today, “America’s Canyonlands” face restoring important winter habitat for partners in the vision of the Canyonlands Research unprecedented human demands coupled with rising mule deer. Thanks to the collaboration of Center—planted a maple sapling at the new field temperatures and prolonged droughts. It all adds up the Canyonlands Research Center, this station. Scientists Allison Stegner, Sasha Reed to dire impacts on lands and waters that are vital to restoration work is now benefitting from and Mike Duniway, and ranchers Matt and Adam local communities and treasured by millions. new data collected by both US Geological Survey and Utah State University. Scientists Redd, all got their hands dirty for the symbolic “Policy makers, land managers and land users from these institutions are helping BLM and planting, which served as a ribbon-cutting for the all deserve answers as to what’s really happening DWR managers understand how climate recently opened facilities. out there on the ground,” says Dr. Baker. “We and management actions intersect to affect “I loved having the young partners lead the need to find out what we can do now to better vegetation vital to the mule deer. Learn dedication,” said Dr. Barry Baker, the Center’s protect our water, soil, grasses and wildlife—and more at canyonlandsresearchcenter.org. Director. “The mission of this Center truly to safeguard economies and livelihoods.”

9 BASIN, RANGE & RIMROCK / summer 2013 Voices for Nature Chris & Kody: Dynamic Duo As much as we would like them to, preserves can’t run themselves. All around the world, the Conservancy works hard to ensure the continued health of the lands and waters in its charge. From safeguarding water sources and restoring habitat, to dealing with visitor wear and tear, the Great Salt Chris Brown: Way over six feet tall. Tough, native Lake Shorelands Preserve is no exception. Utahn. Avid hunter. Unflappable. Can operate the challenge of maintaining the preserve’s almost anything with a motor. Lifelong land valuable natural areas as well as its visitor experience currently falls on the strong (yet very manager and conservationist. Probably wouldn’t different) shoulders of two people: Chris Brown, wear jewelry if you paid him to. the Conservancy’s Director of Stewardship in Utah, and one of his key supporters: Kody Kody Wallace: Way Wallace, a star volunteer for the Utah Chapter. under six feet tall. Chris oversees the health and maintenance of the Native Ohioan, entire 4,400-acre preserve, as well as many other and has lived all protected areas statewide. With his plate full, the over the U.S. Avid dedication of a volunteer like Kody is essential. birder and gardener. “Kody’s energy is amazing,” says Chris. “I wish I Unbelievable, had volunteers like her at our other preserves.” non-stop energy. “I’m sure I drive him crazy,” Wallace laughs. Lifelong educator, “I’m just an old lady who loves birds and bats with the lasting spirit and all kinds of wildlife.” Their differences aside, of a kindergarten Chris and Kody share a passion for the Great Salt Lake, and a commitment to tackle the back-

teacher. Never seen C breaking work it takes to keep a unique landscape wearing fewer than vibrant and sustainable. Thanks to this dynamic five bracelets. duo, the preserve remains one of Utah’s greatest conservation success stories—a valuable haven for both people and wildlife. photo: Ian Mathias/ TN

the nature conservancy utah / nature.org 10 “To me, conservation is about protecting and preserving special places and unique biota. Working in the Escalante River Basin with Colorado River cutthroat trout photo: Courtesy Allison S tegner affords me the opportunity to do I first came to the Dugout as a 10-year- both of those.” old ... I fell instantly in love with Canyon Country. So when it came time for me to Mike Golden, USDA Forest Service choose a dissertation topic, it was easy Mike Golden and the to end up here again, with a focus that I Dixie National Forest hope will lead to a better understanding are key members of of the ecology of this region, and so help the Escalante River to preserve it. To me, the real value of Watershed the Canyonlands Research Center isn’t Partnership, a solely in these tents or the lab space, community-driven but in the intellectual and creative space initiative restoring they represent and the consortium of the river’s health. interests and vision the Center invites. Learn more Eventually a body of knowledge will at nature.org/ emerge from the work that is done here C utahwaters and something we might have lost ... will be saved.”

Allison Stegner, a graduate student at U.C. Berkeley, is studying at the Canyonlands Research Center (see page 9). TN Whitham/ photo: Linda

11 BASIN,BASIN, RANGE RANGE & &RIMROCK RIMROCK / /s uspringmmer 2013 Non-Profit Organization US Postage PAID Permit No. 4958 559 East South Temple Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lake City, Utah 84102 phone: (801) 531-0999 nature.org/utah

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