Global Technology Leader for Integrated Water Resource Management

CH2M

Bio:

Armin Munévar is the CH2M global technology leader for Integrated Water Resource Management and firm lead for water resources planning and climate change adaptation. Mr. Munévar is responsible for developing and implementing frameworks for evaluating impacts on water resource systems, assessing vulnerabilities, developing adaptation strategies, and helping clients achieve sustainable water management. Mr. Munévar has led integrated water planning and management studies for federal, state, and local agencies in some of the most complex watersheds in the United States, including the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta, Colorado River Basin, Salton Sea, and Great Salt Lake. In these efforts, Mr. Munévar has emphasized bridging science, policy, and technical aspects to achieve implementable projects for sustainable water management. Armin has numerous publications and presentations on science-based applications for integrated water management, climate change adaptation and resiliency planning, and hydrology and river basin rations modeling. Armin Munévar has over 20 years of experience on water management projects throughout the U.S. and internationally. Mr. Munévar holds a B.S. and M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles and University of California, Davis, respectively.

Title: Can We Avoid the Tipping Point?

Thursday, May 10, 2:35 PM

Abstract: Terminal lake basins present a unique challenge and accentuate the importance of proactive, integrated, and collaborative planning. Terminal lakes such as the Great Salt Lake are part of large, interconnected watersheds and their trajectories reflect the integration of upstream anthropogenic and natural changes. Changes in climate, land and water use, vegetation, infrastructure, and resource management all significantly impact the future state of these lakes, making it impossible to manage the Great Salt Lake independent from the watershed. Experiences from the Salton Sea, Owens Lake, and other terminal lakes provide examples of decades of lake decline followed by billions of dollars in restoration to prevent the worst outcomes. This presentation will highlight some of the major factors that could influence the future trajectory of the Great Salt Lake and illustrate that proactive, integrated resource management can provide a framework for a long-term sustainable Great Salt Lake and watershed.