Category: Water

Improving Aquatic Habitat Connectivity in the Snake River Headwaters

Posted on by Meghanlata Gupta

Bryce was the Conservation Intern for Trout Unlimited’s Snake River Headwaters Initiative, a project in partnership with Wyoming Game and Fish Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, local governments, and various non-profit organizations. By measuring fish entrainment rates in agricultural diversions from the Snake River and its tributaries, surveying barriers to fish migration, and engaging Read more about Improving Aquatic Habitat Connectivity in the Snake River Headwaters[…]

Land Trusts and Water Conservation

Posted on by Meghanlata Gupta

Abbey worked with the nonprofit land trust Colorado Open Lands to learn about private land conservation in the West as a Summer Conservation Fellow. She assisted with conservation and stewardship activities such as monitoring conservation easements from satellite imagery, landowner outreach, and researching innovative methods of water conservation. The primary focus of her work at Read more about Land Trusts and Water Conservation[…]

Non-Consumptive Water Rights as a Landscape Conservation Tool

Posted on by Meghanlata Gupta

Margot’s independent policy analysis investigated the governance structures in Colorado that allowed non-consumptive water rights to be claimed by private entities and how this has impacted the regional landscape. Non-consumptive, or in-stream water rights, ensure that at the location where the rights are claimed, the amount of water will not change in quality or quantity Read more about Non-Consumptive Water Rights as a Landscape Conservation Tool[…]

Pursuing Better Stewardship and Better Futures: Centering Native American Histories and Perspectives

Posted on by Meghanlata Gupta

The United States recognizes over 500 American Indian or Alaskan Native nations. There is extraordinary variety in the cultural, spiritual, and stewardship practices among Native American peoples. Sincere collaboration with Native nations provides non-Native land stewards an opportunity to confront an often terrible history, steward landscapes effectively for more stakeholders, and pursue a better future Read more about Pursuing Better Stewardship and Better Futures: Centering Native American Histories and Perspectives[…]

Assessing Climate Change Impacts to Waterways Near National Parks in the West

Posted on by Meghanlata Gupta

Humna worked with the water conservation team at National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) to assess anthropogenic threats to western waterways that run through or close to national parks. Recent policy rollbacks in legacy environmental laws, including the Waters of the United States Rule under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the National Environmental Policy Act Read more about Assessing Climate Change Impacts to Waterways Near National Parks in the West[…]

Water in the Southwest and the New-Old Threat of Uranium Mining — Humna Sharif

Posted on by ucross-admin

Clean and safe water is one of the most precious resources anywhere in the world, but this is especially true for arid regions with growing populations. Southwestern US, known for being hot and dry, is getting even hotter and drier due to climate change. The Colorado River is the single most important source of water Read more about Water in the Southwest and the New-Old Threat of Uranium Mining — Humna Sharif[…]

Annual Report 2019 — Michelle Downey

Posted on by Downey, Michelle

Please find our 2019 annual report below. We are incredibly grateful for all the partnerships and collaborations that have allowed UHPSI to provide over 65 students with experiential learning opportunities during 2019. Thank you to our students, partners, and supporters! Full PDF 2019 Annual Report here.

Western Speaker Series

Posted on by Meghanlata Gupta

The Western Speaker Series connects conservation professionals and Yale students to explore and discuss a range of issues facing land stewardship in the American West. The Symposium Coordinators worked with UHPSI staff to plan presentations, career chats, and technical training by western conservation professionals that provide our students with valuable knowledge and insight. The 2019-2020 Read more about Western Speaker Series[…]

Governance successes and challenges along the Colorado River – Lucas Isakowitz

Posted on by Downey, Michelle

The Colorado River runs almost 1,500 miles, from the cold Rocky Mountains down to the dry Sonoran desert. Throughout this journey, the river passes through 2 countries and 7 states, providing food and water for some 40 million people. This summer I got to know the river intimately, through the work of The Nature Conservancy’s Read more about Governance successes and challenges along the Colorado River – Lucas Isakowitz[…]

The Death and Rebirth of the Colorado River Delta

Posted on by Barendregt-Ludwig, Kristin

A century ago, the Colorado River ran uninterrupted from the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California. It fanned its delta across 3,000 square miles of winding river and green lagoons, with mesquite and willow trees providing habitat for hundreds of species of birds. “The river was everywhere and nowhere,” wrote the conservationist Aldo Leopold Read more about The Death and Rebirth of the Colorado River Delta[…]

Benthic Macroinvertebrate Survey of Canyon Creek

Posted on by Barendregt-Ludwig, Kristin

Joshua’s research surveyed benthic macroinvertebrate communities of Canyon Creek at The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Tensleep Preserve in order to (1) assess the current communities of this river section, (2) analyze the impacts of two subterranean limestone sink systems and a human diversion on these communities, and (3) provide data and voucher specimens for future studies. Read more about Benthic Macroinvertebrate Survey of Canyon Creek[…]

Governance and Storytelling Along the Colorado River

Posted on by Barendregt-Ludwig, Kristin

Lucas worked for The Nature Conservancy’s Colorado River Program (CRP). His focus for the CRP was two-fold: first, Lucas researched environmental governance and finance models to facilitate the creation of a water fund for the Colorado River delta. This work entailed outreach to stakeholders and coordination with existing environmental funds to glean best practices. The Read more about Governance and Storytelling Along the Colorado River[…]

Increasing the Pace and Scale of Conservation in the Tetons through Collaboration

Posted on by Barendregt-Ludwig, Kristin

Shea worked with LegacyWorks Group in Jackson, Wyoming to accelerate community-driven impact to advance large-scale conservation efforts in the Teton region. She assisted the team in executing projects that advance four major goals: 1) increase the ability of local conservation partners to work collaboratively on community- and regional-scale projects, 2) enhance water availability for human Read more about Increasing the Pace and Scale of Conservation in the Tetons through Collaboration[…]

Pulse of the River —Reid Lewis

Posted on by Meghanlata Gupta

The Southwest is a dry place. This statement should not surprise anyone; when you think of Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico, you think of Prickly Pear and Saguaro, desert sunsets and dusty streets. What may not so quickly come to mind are the rapidly growing cities of Los Angeles, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Denver, and Las Vegas. Read more about Pulse of the River —Reid Lewis[…]

Urbanization & Human-Wildlife Conflict in the West —Amy Zuckerwise

Posted on by Meghanlata Gupta

Black bear at a bird feeder Carnivores have become social media sensations when they enter into urban areas. Hundreds of videos of bears breaking into houses and raiding the refrigerators or mountain lions lying under an unsuspecting resident’s back porch can be found with one quick online search. After a predator shows up in a Read more about Urbanization & Human-Wildlife Conflict in the West —Amy Zuckerwise[…]