2017 Conference Speakers

When we think of water in the West, we think of conflict and crisis. In recent years, newspaper headlines have screamed, “Scarce water and the death of California farms,” “The Dust Bowl returns,” “A ‘megadrought’ will grip U.S. in the coming decades.” Yet similar stories have been appearing for decades and the taps continue to flow. John Fleck argues that the talk of impending doom is not only untrue, but dangerous. When people get scared, they fight for the last drop of water; but when they actually have less, they use less.

John Fleck is Professor of Practice in Water Policy and Governance in the University of New Mexico Department of Economics and director of the university’s Water Resources Program, where he co-teaches classes in contemporary water policy issues, modeling, and technical communication for water managers. A science journalist with 30 years of newspaper experience, he is the author of the book Water is for Fighting Over and Other Myths About Water in the West, an exploration of solutions to the Colorado River Basin’s water problems, published by Island Press.

Watershed Management Group (WMG) has evaluated the benefits and impacts of green infrastructure (GI) implementation in a range of southwestern U.S. communities. Case studies evaluating GI costs, benefits, and hydrologic impacts will be shared from Arizona communities Tempe, Sierra Vista, and Tucson, and also from Las Cruces, NM. In Sierra Vista, the primary goal for GI is to conserve groundwater to maintain the health of the San Pedro River. In Tucson and Tempe, the goal was to mitigate chronic flooding in neighborhoods due to aging and undersized conventional infrastructure. Las Cruces is investing in GI in order to exceed requirements set forth in MS4 permits for water quality. Results across these arid cities show that investment in GI retrofits can return $3 – 6 of value for every dollar invested over the life of the project. To learn more about our watershed-scale work, please visit: watershedmg.org/services/watershed

Kieran Sikdar is passionate about creating prosperous communities by celebrating water in our abundant desert landscape. Combining his experience as a Civil Engineer (MS), Certified Floodplain Manager, and Certified Water Harvesting Practitioner with over 10 years of experience in cost benefit analysis, green infrastructure/low impact development design, watershed restoration, and permaculture design, he serves as the City of Tucson Mayor’s representative on the Flood Control District Advisory Committee. Kieran’s goal is to implement water harvesting practices on a broad scale as critical flood mitigation and storm water infrastructure to shade and beautify our communities while repairing our urban watersheds.

In response to the call from the Legislature, the Utton Transboundary Resources Center convened over forty experienced water managers, lawyers, scientists, engineers, academics, and students to explore water law and policy options for New Mexico. To encourage imaginative and courageous thinking we imposed The Chatham House Rule, which allows participants to use any information provided at the conference, but prohibits participants from revealing the identity or affiliation of the person who provides that information, nor that of any other participant. Liberated from fear of possible repercussions, the group freely proposed changes to New Mexico water law and policy to help New Mexico incorporate the concept of resilience into its water management objectives and avoid future conflicts over water. This presentation will provide a synopsis of the groups proposals.

Adrian Oglesby is the Director of the Utton Transboundary Resources Center at the UNM School of Law, which works to develop legal and policy solutions for natural resource challenges facing New Mexico. He is also a Board member at the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, the Mid-Region Council of Governments, the Tamarisk Coalition, and the Natural Resources, Energy and Environment Law Section of the State Bar.

ALMA comprises a diverse group of artists from widely varying cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. Our diversity is reflected in all levels of the organization, from beginning apprentices to top levels of leadership. We use an apprenticeship model based in ancient cultural traditions from different parts of the world. We rely on collaboration, trust, respect, and individual attention to nurture and develop each member’s artistic and leadership potential. Each artist is like a wildflower, growing in unique ways and thriving in different conditions. When we grow together, the panoply of pattern and color looks nothing like what we might have expected; it is far more beautiful. What has this organizational model made possible in terms of artistic, economic, and cultural development? This talk will explore how the ALMA garden relates to issues of artistic excellence, economic development, racial justice, personal healing, and cultural transformation.

Cassandra Reid is a public artist who creates mosaics from handmade tiles in collaboration with others. Over the past 25 years, she has had the pleasure of working with more than 3000 community members, and she has helped create jobs for 250 youth and adult artists. She is the Executive Director of ALMA – Apprenticeships for Leaders in Mosaic Arts. She holds a BA in Studio Art from Wesleyan University and an MFA in Sculpture from the University of New Mexico. In addition to making public art, she has exhibited her work in galleries nationally and internationally.