HP16CPC.qxd:HP16.qxd 12/2/08 1:07 PM Page 1 Hidden Passage the journal of glen canyon institute Issue XVI, Fall Conference 2008 HP16CPC.qxd:HP16.qxd 12/2/08 1:07 PM Page 2 Lifeblood of the West: The Colorado River, Its Value and Future Glen Canyon Institute by Dave Wegner President I n 1992, Professor Charles Wilkinson published a book entitled Crossing the Next Richard Ingebretsen Meridian: Land, Water and the Future of the West. Wilkinson put forth a premise that the people of the West were grappling with the legacy of the “lords of yesterday” Board of Trustees who divided up, developed, and created empires surrounding water, minerals, graz- Mikhail Davis ing, and timber. The criteria and logic used by these lords of yesterday were based Ed Dobson largely on a static, unchanging system of water supply and climate. Today we know Wade Graham that the system is changing—and fast. Margaret Hoffman Nancy Jacques Water supply and climate have a direct effect on many of the things we need and Rick Ridder cherish about the West—the forests, the rivers, the lakes, the species, recreation, Lea Rudee water to drink, and farming and ranching communities. In order to continue to Dave Wegner enjoy and protect these valuable resources we must evaluate the potential impacts from our changing global climate. Development Director Since 1996, Glen Canyon Institute has championed the protection and restoration Amy Collins of Glen Canyon, described variously as The Place No One Knew (Elliot Porter) to an Earthstone Drum and Crystal Wave (Katie Lee). Mention the word Glen Canyon to Advisory Committee anyone in the West and you are likely to get a response ranging from a shaking of the Dan Beard head in disbelief as to what has been lost to a jumping up and down in giddy pleas- Steve Black ure by water users. It is a place that elicits a response and perhaps that is why it is Philmer Bluehouse Ryan Brown important that we not forget it. Niklas Christensen Agustin Garza Setting the Stage for the Conference Michael Kellett Peter Lavigne Beginning in the late 1800s, the Colorado River was lusted over, divided up by the Katie Lee seven Colorado River Basin States, and put to work—providing water for irrigation Daniel McCool and development, creating hydropower, and serving as an economic engine for the Francis McDermott Bruce Mouro American Southwest. Somewhere along the way of so-called progress, the nature and Tom Myers value of the water as a river were forgotten. Forgotten until Katie Lee, David Brower, Page Stegner Martin Litton, Eliot Porter, Ed Abbey, Ken Sleight and others began to raise our con- Flake Wells sciousness. Bill Wolverton Glen Canyon Institute organized this conference around two themes: one dealing with the likely impact of climate change on the water resources of the Colorado River 1520 Sunnydale Lane system, a system that is going to see massive change in terms of the quantity, quality Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 and timing of the water supply. The second theme of the conference is to highlight tel (801) 363-4450 and discuss efforts by people to help keep the essence of the Colorado Plateau alive fax (801) 363-4451 in all of us. What we cannot forget is the hard work and vision that others have had [email protected] to lay the path for the next generation of conservationists. www.glencanyon.org Hidden Passage In the 1990s, the term “global climate change” began to gain traction, predomi- Issue XVI Fall Conference 2008 nantly as concerns regarding the ozone hole over Antarctica and the loss of glaciers in South and North America began to hit the public press. Scientists had been talk- Editor ing about this but lacked hard data to support a scientifically rigorous review of the Wade Graham potential and possibility. With advances in computer analysis, and the ability to han- [email protected] dle large amounts of data, scientists with inquiring minds began seeing trends and relationships between climate and ocean currents and temperatures, atmospheric printed on 100% recycled paper conditions, and responses of vegetation communities, aquatic and terrestrial habitats Cover: Glen Canyon Dam with 145-foot tall “bathtub ring,” April 12, 2005. Photo by page 2 Jim Kay — jameskay.com HP16CPC.qxd:HP16.qxd 12/2/08 1:08 PM Page 3 and species, and water supplies. should be interpreted and potentially used by water managers. The challenges for all of us who call the Colorado River Following the scientific discussion, we will focus on the Basin home, or use the resources from it, is how to live within artists and activists who have dedicated their expertise to the our means and protect and preserve the critical elements of the Colorado Plateau and Glen Canyon: the grande dame of the Colorado Plateau. Glen Canyon Institute believes that deci- Colorado River, Katie Lee; Jim Kay and his spectacular nature sions regarding the management of water and resources in the photography; and Bill Wolverton and his decades long work to Colorado River Basin should be based on sound and credible rid Glen Canyon of invasive tamarisk and Russian olive. science. Towards that end the Institute has invited scientists who have done important work that addresses relationships Last, but certainly not least is a discussion of what we need between climate change and future water supplies of the to do to develop the conservation leaders needed to carry the Colorado River Basin. These are scientists who have produced message for our living systems. Martin Litton, protector of peer-reviewed studies that are pertinent to decision-makers Grand Canyon and the giant Sequoias; Barbara and Kenneth today. The primary objec- Brower (daughter and son tive of this conference is to of the later Ann and David bring together key scien- Brower); and Ken Sleight, tists and advocates provid- advocate for the Colorado ing information for all Plateau, will discuss what it entities to consider and uti- takes to be an environmen- lize. tal advocate and hero. This discussion will culminate Dr. Tim Barnett will dis- in the evening presentation cuss his and David Pierce’s of the David R. Brower recent work on evaluating Conservation Award to the potential impact of Congressman George reduced water availability Miller, long an advocate and the water levels of Lake for the Colorado River and Mead. Dr. Gregory the environmental McCabe will discuss the implications of reduced water supplies resources of our country and the world. Before he passed away, and what it may mean to potential shortages in the Colorado Glen Canyon Institute co-founder David Brower was emphatic River Basin. Discussing the potential implications of these that we should make this presentation to those who are true future predictions on water supply to the Colorado River Basin advocates and believe in the value and purpose of combining will include: Brad Udall, who will focus on the broader range science, passion, and commitment to the natural resources of of issues related to reduced water supplies in the West and what this country. it means to water managers; Dr. Connie Woodhouse, who will discuss her tree-ring studies and what they tell us about past In Summary climate fluctuations; and finally, Dave Wegner, who will discuss the implications of climate change on the species and their Glen Canyon Institute is committed to bringing together the habitats in the Colorado River Basin and implications for scientific, artistic, political and decision-making expertise that resources management. will help us all protect and manage the natural, cultural and social resources of the Colorado River system. While we desire Science is an important foundation for making decisions. to protect and restore Glen Canyon, we realize that protecting Interpreting science and presenting it in formats that decision- and restoring Glen Canyon requires us to look at the big pic- makers can understand is the role of managers, academicians, ture and bring together diverse groups of people to find solu- and the public. The afternoon session focuses on discussing the tions, not more problems. We stand committed to Glen implications of the scientific results and how it is interpreted in Canyon and its resources and we invite all of you to join us in respect to legal and management implications. Robert Adler that passion. Welcome to the conference. and Dan McCool, both professors at the University of Utah will join the scientists in asking how the information presented Lower Wahweap Bay, 95 feet below full pool, April 27, 2003. Photo by Jim Kay — jameskay.com page 3 HP16CPC.qxd:HP16.qxd 12/2/08 1:08 PM Page 4 ADJUSTING TO LESS WATER: CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE COLORADO RIVER A Conference Sponsored by Glen Canyon Institute Thursday, December 4, 2008 University of Utah Conference Center/Officer’s Club - Salt Lake City Doors open 8:30 am Phone (801) 363-4450, Fax (801) 363-4451 Email [email protected] SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS 8:30-9:00 CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST Welcome: Richard Ingebretsen, President, Glen Canyon Institute Session Moderator: Wade Graham, Trustee, Glen Canyon Institute 9:00-9:45 Sustainability of the Colorado Water Supply: A Glimpse Ahead • Tim Barnett, Research Marine Physicist, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego 9:45-10:30 Warming and Potential Water Supply Shortages • Gregory McCabe, Project Chief and Physical Scientist, United States Geological Survey, National Research Program, Water Resources Division, Denver, Colorado 10:30-10:45 BREAK 10:45-12:00 Implications of Declining Colorado River Flows • Bradley Udall, Director, NOAA Western Water Assessment, University of Colorado • Connie Woodhouse, Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Regional Development and Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona • David Wegner, Science Director and Trustee, Glen Canyon Institute 12:00-1:00 BREAK FOR LUNCH 1:00-2:00 Summary and Panel Discussion: Scientific Research Direction and Needs Session Moderator: David Wegner, Science Director and Trustee, Glen Canyon Institute Previous presenters will be joined on the panel by: • Robert Adler, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and James I.