In the Wasatch

2025 marks the 10 year anniversary of the Mountain Accord Charter. This charter isa landmark, consensus document that memorializes the hard fought negotiations and agreements that were struck among the major interests of the Central Wasatch. In this episode, former Central Wasatch Commission Staff, Ben Kilbourne, facilitates a conversation with three individuals that were instrumental in the Mount...

Today we’re going walking with Tom Diegel in the Wasatch. Tom has been involved with the CWC for some time now, and has held the Stakeholders Council Co-Chair role for the last two years. He’s focused a lot of his efforts on Mill Creek Canyon, and has a special affinity for it, so that’s where we went. Tom is heading to Europe for the winter so I wanted to give him a chance to reflect on his time...

Summit Community Gardens and EATS connect Summit County residents, and especially kids to what it really means to live in the Central Wasatch. For the second consecutive year, they have been awarded a grant through CWC's short-term grant program for their environmental education program where they connect kids to the process of growing food in rocky clayey soil at more than 6,600 feet above se...

Every year the CWC distributes grants for Short-Term Projects that would help further the goals of the Mountain Accord by implementing transportation and transit solutions, protecting the ecosystems that originate in the Central Wasatch, stewarding recreational access, and sustaining the economic vitality of the area. This year, the Swaner Preserve and Ecocenter applied for a grant to remove old f...

John Knoblock is the Central Wasatch Commission’s outgoing Stakeholders Council Chair. In this role he has actively participated in nearly every System Committee meeting, every Stakeholders Council meeting, and every Board meeting for the last two years. Since his term is up at the end of the month, we wanted to give him a chance to share his thoughts on his tenure in a podcast-style exit intervie...

Season 2 (and winter) have both come to an end, and a new chapter is beginning. While the gamble oaks and maples have been leafing out, a changing of the guard is taking place at the Central Wasatch Commission. Mia McNeil is heading out on an adventure, and Ben Kilbourne, the new Communications Director, will be taking over the pod. Listen to learn a little about Ben and find out how Mia's rel...

A public comment period is an essential component to many government projects. It provides evidence as to why the development should or should not be implemented, needs to be reevaluated, or does not follow official protocol. Comments can change the trajectory of a project in a positive way, but how can the public give effective input that makes a substantial difference? Kirk Nichols joins me in t...

The Central Wasatch Commission was created because of a document called the Mountain Accord charter . This document is the foundation of the organization and its goals to help alleviate issues regarding the economy, environment, recreation, and transportation throughout the Central Wasatch. The CWC’s Executive Director, Lindsey Nielsen, will read verbatim the Mountain Accord charter.  This episode...

The state of an economy depends on a variety of factors. Job opportunities, housing availability, business prosperity and more. The Central Wasatch’s economy consists of tourism, recreation, hotels, restaurants, and multiple towns and cities. The wasatch front and back are physically separated but have common themes. In this episode, I talk economics with CWC stakeholder Morgan Mingle and how it r...

Our environment is the foundation of life in local communities. With continuous development, it's crucial to monitor the level of impact imposed on the surrounding water, soil, and inhabitants. The National Environmental Policy Act, commonly known as NEPA, is the law that protects surrounding environments from potential damage. Kirk Nichols joins me in this episode to dive into what NEPA is and ho...

The first annual Central Wasatch Symposium was a success! The event was held on January 9th and 10th, 2025, at Millcreek City Hall, with various speakers and organizations in attendance. To capture the experience, we walked around in between breakout sessions to hear what attendees and speakers had to say. This episode highlights each person's perspective on the conference and the overall impa...

The CWC’s first annual Central Wasatch Symposium is right around the corner! This two-day conference is an educational event spotlighting the four systems of the Central Wasatch: economy, environment, recreation, and transportation. The CWC’s Executive Director, Lindsey Nielsen, and Director of Operations, Sam Kilpack, will be with me announcing the Symposium and discussing what this event will lo...

The CWNCRA series continues with a new episode reviewing iterations of the bill and the changes made over time. The CWC’s Executive Director Lindsey Nielsen and Director of Operations Sam Kilpack will be with me reviewing each version of the CWNCRA. As a reminder, the Central Wasatch National Conservation and Recreation Area Act, also known as the CWNCRA, is a federal, consensus-based bill drafted...

We will be introducing you to Caitlin Curry who is part of Utah Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, an organization that supports county efforts to conserve public lands in ways that work for local communities and preserve their outdoor legacy for future generations. She is also a member of the CWC’s Stakeholders Council and participates on the Recreation System Committee. Utah Backcountry Hunters an...

Today we will be introducing you to Jayme Kogel, one of the founders of Speedmo, a local organization passionate about bringing the community of flying athletes together. They host races, gear demos, film viewings, festivals, and track records. A large part of their vision is sustainable recreation in the Central Wasatch. Jayme and I will be discussing flying, sustainability, and collaborative eff...

Today we have the CWC’s Executive Director Lindsey Nielsen and Director of Operations Sam Kilpack back on the In the Wasatch Podcast! One of the primary components of the CWC’s mission is establishing its federal bill for the Central Wasatch: the Central Wasatch National Conservation and Recreational Area Act, also known as the CWNCRA. This will be the first episode in the In the Wasatch “CWNCRA”...

Wildlife are spread all across the Wasatch. Shauna Hart is a local wildlife photographer who spends her time capturing the beauty of animals in the Central Wasatch. Scott Root is the Conservation Outreach manager for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. In this episode, we will talk to Shauna and Scott about wildlife and photography in the Central Wasatch Mountains. Shauna Harts info: Instagra...

Dani Poirier and Tom Diegel are involved in both the CWC and Wasatch Backcountry Alliance, a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect and advocate for backcountry terrain and access, while educating and informing the community. Dani Poirier is on the CWC’s Youth Council as Chair of the Environmental Dashboard Education Committee and also serves as the Director of WBA. Tom Diegel is...

Ryan McCann is currently on the CWC’s Youth Council and works for Wasatch Adaptive Sports, a nonprofit organization that was established in 1977 to provide affordable recreational and educational opportunities for children, adults and veterans to share with their support network or family. Their mission is to empower people with disabilities to realize their potential through outdoor recreation. W...

The Central Wasatch Commission (CWC) is an intergovernmental entity dedicated to protecting the Central Wasatch Mountains by focusing on transportation, recreation, conservation, and the economy. This episode kicks off the ‘In the Wasatch’ podcast with an introduction to who is involved in the CWC, and the values and mission of the organization. CWC Website: cwc.utah.gov Social Media: @centralwasa...