Hear Experts Address Impact of Two-Decade Drought on Lower Colorado River Tour
Engage directly with experts featured in the virtual journey during live Q&A May 20
Hear directly from a range of experts offering a variety of perspectives on our May 20 virtual Lower Colorado River Tour as they put into context the 20-plus year drought on what is the most contested and meticulously managed river in the United States.
Among the experts featured are farmers, tribal representatives, and managers from wildlife agencies, water districts, the Bureau of Reclamation and others who will discuss drought impacts, habitat projects, farming and restoration efforts at the Salton Sea.
The 1,450-mile Colorado River is a lifeline to 40 million people in the Southwest across seven states and Mexico, and this tour will focus on how the Lower Basin states of California, Nevada and Arizona use and manage the river’s water.
The highest priority water rights on the river are held by agricultural users, but a chronic drought has dropped water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell — the river’s largest reservoirs — so storage levels and recent changes in water allocation rules will be among the topics of discussion.
The three-hour virtual journey will include:
- An overview presentation on the Lower Colorado River Basin to provide background on the region’s critical topics
- A guided video tour of key stops along the Lower Colorado River to provide a stronger understanding of a variety of water supply issues
- Live Q&A in chat rooms where participants can dive deeper into the topics directly with the experts featured in the video
As part of the event, participants will receive a copy of our Layperson’s Guide to the Colorado River and be entered into a drawing to win one of the Foundation’s beautiful water maps.
The guided video tour features:
- Mike Bernardo, river operations manager for the Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Basin
- Seth Shanahan, Colorado River programs manager with the Southern Nevada Water Authority
- Dale Thompson, supervisor with the Central Arizona Project
- Gene Patricio, section manager, and Jason Rollo, inspection trip manager for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
- Bart Fisher, farmer and trustee of the Palo Verde Irrigation District
- Brian Golding, Sr., economic development director for the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe
- Tina Shields, water manager with Imperial Irrigation District
- Chris Schoneman, project leader with the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge
- Gail Sevrens, Salton Sea program manager for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Patrick O’Dowd, executive director of the Salton Sea Authority
- Peter Nelson, board member of the Coachella Valley Water District
Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to learn about the Colorado River! Find more registration details here, and contact Programs Director Nick Gray with any questions via email.