Ripple Effect: A Podcast Putting Water In Context

Send us Fan Mail A year after the beginning of the COVID pandemic, Emily sits down with Laura Briefer, Director of the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, for a look back over 2020. Laura provides some great insights on lessons learned, surprising discoveries, and a stronger path forward for Salt Lake City utilities.

Send us Fan Mail A fantastic talk with Alex Loucopoulos of Sciens Water, an alternative asset management firm. Alex breaks down the need for capital investment in mid-level water infrastructure and projects. This is a great look at how a private ownership model can address critical water needs. 

Send us Fan Mail Orianna Bretschger from Aquacycl talks about distributed infrastructure and her modular on-site waste water treatment system. A riveting conversation about bio-chemical reactions, the healthy role of capitalism, how to make a difference, and what is needed to make the future now. 

Send us Fan Mail A must listen again! Tony Parrott, CEO, and Sharise Horn, Director of Community Benefits and Partnerships from the Louisville & Jefferson County Sewer District give us a GREAT overview of their recruitment, retention, and procurement policies. Their plan is both pragmatic and progressive and one to model to create a utility that is inclusive, forward thinking, and built for th...

Send us Fan Mail Jesse Clark of Stream Landscape Architecture and Planning talks us through his many projects and the importance of urban stream health and creative storm water solutions. Great discussion about the importance of many small positive actions. 

Send us Fan Mail In a companion episode to our Bonnie Baxter talk, Jaimi Butler of the Great Salt Lake Institute takes us back the Great Salt Lake and unpack one more layer of this fascinating jewel of an inland sea.

Send us Fan Mail This is a recipe for success. Kristan VandenHeuval of The Water Tower in Buford, Georgia, walks us through their "ecosystem of innovation." Kristan and her team are building a novel and impactful approach to supporting smaller scale utilities and helping the surrounding communities succeed.

Send us Fan Mail THIS IS A MUST LISTEN conversation with Bonnie Baxter, Professor of Biology and Director of the Great Salt Lake Institute at Westminster College. Bonnie talks about several key Institute programs, including their partnership with NASA to explore microbial links between the Great Salt Lake and Mars. Be prepared to stretch your mind. 

Send us Fan Mail Diane Menuz, Wetland Coordinator with Utah Geologic Survey discusses the importance of wetlands and her role in mapping. assessing, and understanding Utah's wetland environments. Great context for why and how information about wetlands can be used to inform decision making. 

Send us Fan Mail Dan Haller of Aspect Consulting takes us through Washington's Trust Water Rights Program and how water banking works on the ground in the state. Great discussion with many parallels to our efforts in Utah. 

Send us Fan Mail A MUST listen fast paced talk with Jason Robison, Professor and Writer of all things Colorado River. Jason gives a fantastic overview of the history of the Colorado River Compact, various highlights and key pieces of the Law of the River, where we are going and what to expect. Jason brings a wonderful perspective from his "confluence" of study of water law, western land...

Send us Fan Mail Paul Inkenbrandt walks us through the role of the Utah Geologic Survey, some of the State's groundwater monitoring measures, and UGS's burgeoning Eddy Covariance Tower system. Great discussion of the "on the ground" and below the ground activities in the State. 

Send us Fan Mail Keith Larson and Thayne Clark of Bowen Collins bring it home with a great discussion on the Bear River Project and the role of conservation on informing and potentially delaying the need for large scale infrastructure projects. Great discussion with two incredibly knowledgeable individuals.  Watch their Great Salt Lake Advisory Council Presentation from 9.9.2020 here . And, check...

Send us Fan Mail Great discussion with Kristina Ribellia, Founder and Chief Operations Director of Western Water Market. We discuss gaps in the water market and how to build a platform that is useful for water users, professionals, and western water market knowledge. 

Send us Fan Mail A good discussion with Todd Walton, Executive Director of Winter Wildlands Alliance, about watershed protection from a very different and unexpected angle. We discuss the importance of organizational effectiveness.

Send us Fan Mail Ted Knowlton, Deputy Director of the Wasatch Front Regional Council, walks us through the complex and critical work  of the WFRC. He highlights the need for integrated planning as necessary for building our best communities. Water, transportation, and community character all play a role in designing the Utah of the future.

Send us Fan Mail Energetic discussion with Mae Stevens, Executive Vice President and Chair of Signal Water Group. Mae walks us through the contemporary history of federal funding for water projects (spoiler steep decline), water funding trends, and what to look out for under a new Biden Administration. Importantly, she reminds us the need for citizens to call their representatives and request fede...

Send us Fan Mail GREAT discussion with Devin McKrola from Central Utah Water Conservancy District breaking down the Wasatch County Water Efficiency Project. This truly is an amazing project with so many benefits to the citizens of Utah. Plus we get to water dork out about the Morse Decree!

Send us Fan Mail Dave Skuodas from the Mile High Flood District discusses the unique way his agency tackles urban stream challenges and mitigates flooding impacts. As a “placemaker” the District’s multi-disciplinary approach protects people and property while turning urban stream environments into inviting spaces to gather and engage with nature and the community. Really cool projects and a good d...

Send us Fan Mail Brian Jackson of the Environmental Defense Fund walks us through Colorado’s Constitutional Amendment DD and how taxing sports betting has become a new revenue source for water projects. Who knew the pandemic would make table tennis the highest grossing sport for betting – weird and strange times.

Send us Fan Mail Fantastic and timely discussion with Dr. Danya Rumore, Director of the Wallace Stegner Center’s Environmental Dispute Resolution Program. Dr. Rumore discusses the need for collaborative efforts to resolve complicated problems and how to move toward a shared vision for the future.

Send us Fan Mail Crystal Simons  of the American Conservation Experience discusses the importance and function of conservation easements as a means of private land conservation and potential applications to the water field.

Send us Fan Mail Fred Donaldson of the Utah Attorney General’s Office walks us through the State of Utah’s claim to and contemporary management of submerged sovereign lands.

Send us Fan Mail Steve Clyde and Emily Lewis break down  2020 Constitutional Amendment D – Municipal Water Rights. Learn what the proposed amendment does and why it gives much needed flexibility to our municipal suppliers.

Send us Fan Mail Great discussion with Sarah Shechter Assistant Utah Attorney General unpacking the significance and substance of Utah’s Water Rights General Adjudication process.