In the face of a changing climate, cities across the world are experiencing unprecedented water management challenges. In the arid Southwest, governments, NGOs, and the private sector have been working for decades to prepare for inevitable reductions in water availability, to ensure there will be resources for both people and nature in the years to come. This webinar brought together experts from Las Vegas and Los Angeles to share management strategies in different urban sectors to use less water and support greener, more equitable cities.
Watch a recording of the webinar.
This event is part of the Salazar Center’s Urban Conservation Stories webinar series. Each of the three events in the series is focused on a core theme: biodiversity, water in arid environments, and landscape connectivity. Experts from across North America will share their important work that can allow cities to contribute to national conservation targets, while creating thriving urban environments. Learn more about the other events.
Eileen Alduenda, Executive Director, Council for Watershed Health
Eileen manages construction and maintenance for the Elmer Avenue Paseo Project in Los Angeles County. She also provides support for projects seeking to integrate Low Impact Development (LID) principles and practices into site design. Eileen has an MLA with a focus on urban ecological systems from the University of Washington where she also completed research for Seattle Public Utilities on Natural Drainage Systems – SPU’s approach to Low Impact Development.
Zane Marshall, Director of Water Resources, Southern Nevada Water Authority
A Las Vegas native, Zane has worked at SNWA for the past 27 years and currently leads six divisions that oversee the management of water, land and environmental resources, and the implementation of environmental restoration and compliance, conservation, climate change, and sustainability programs. Zane has a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and a Master’s in Biology and Statistics from the University of Nevada.
Moderated by Alex Hager, Reporter, Colorado River Basin, KUNC
Alex Hager covers the Colorado River basin and water in the West for KUNC public radio in Northern Colorado and a network of 20+ NPR stations throughout the Southwest. He previously covered environmental issues and the resort economy for Aspen Public Radio in Colorado and reported on the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery for KDLG public radio in Alaska. He is a graduate of Elon University who enjoys skiing and mountain biking.
Dates
| Date | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 1, 2022 | 12:00 pm | 1:00 pm |
Contact Information
If you have any questions about this webinar, please reach out to Shoshanna Dean at [email protected].
Key Themes
- Climate adaptation
- Community-based conservation
- Resiliency
- Urban nature
Michelle Barton, M.S. is an Environmental Supervisor with LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN) and manages the City of LA’s Biodiversity Program. She recently completed the baseline measurement of the brand new LA Biodiversity Index and facilitated the creation of the first Healthy Soils Strategy for the City of Los Angeles. Michelle earned her B.S. in Biology from UCLA in 2010 and her M.S. in Biology from CSULB in 2016.
Julia Murphy, AICP, LEED AP ND, is the City of San Antonio Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer working on the city’s first climate action and adaptation plan, focusing on energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, green infrastructure, and air quality. Murphy has been an invited speaker at state, national and international events and has published articles about natural resource conservation initiatives in the Texas Hill Country.
Sarah is the co-founder and executive director of the Natural Areas Conservancy (NAC), a nonprofit dedicated to managing New York City’s 20,000 acres of forests and wetlands. The NAC is a pioneer in the field of urban conservation, using data and science to develop new ways to manage urban natural areas so that they provide recreation opportunities for diverse users, protect biodiversity, and provide environmental benefits. Sarah has a MEM from the Yale School of the Environment.
Laurel is involved in the development of the national program and National Urban Parks Policy. Laurel has a Master’s in Public Administration and joined Parks Canada in March 2020 after a decade spent working in the charitable sector on local and national-scale community development initiatives. Born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, Laurel has had a lifelong passion for outdoor spaces and for connecting people with nature – and now enjoys sharing those passions with her husband and 2-year old daughter.
Alan has spent his career in the Middle Rio Grande working to find interdisciplinary connections that bring new perspectives and possibilities to difficult situations. He has been writing and lecturing on the link between environmental degradation and cultural depression and the notion that mental health and environmental health are one and the same. 
A native of the San Luis Valley, Armando was raised on a farm and ranch near Capulin, Colorado. Most recently, Valdez worked as an Assistant Professor of Management and the Director of the Health Care Administration Program in the School of Business at Adams State University, and he currently serves as a member of the Colorado State University System Board of Governors. 
Barbara serves as a leader in the team designing the Laredo- Nuevo Laredo Binational Conservation Park, and for her, the power of architecture is expressed in its impact on the human experience. She believes that strategic and thoughtful design with the user’s experience as the priority can influence people’s decisions and connections to others and the environment. 
Dr. Tracy serves as Director of the Colorado Water Center and as professor in the department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability at Colorado State University. Dr. Tracy has led research initiatives on understanding and developing sustainable water management practices in a wide range of hydro-climatological systems across the western United States. 
Senior Analyst, Natural Resources and Environment, U.S. Government Accountability Office
Senior Climate Resiliency Planner – NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development
