Executive Director, Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust
National Audubon Society & The Nature Conservancy
Bio:
Marcelle Shoop serves as the Executive Director of the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust, which is co-managed by National Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy. The Trust was established to help enhance and retain water flows for Great Salt Lake and help protect and restore wetlands habitats in the Great Salt Lake ecosystem to benefit the Lake’s hydrology.
Marcelle also launched and now directs the Saline Lakes Program for Audubon. The program is part of Audubon’s Western Water initiative that strives to advance balanced solutions to water use in the arid West so birds, ecosystems, people, and economies thrive. The Audubon Saline Lakes team leads efforts to protect the health of saline lakes across the West. These habitats, including Great Salt Lake, Lake Abert in Oregon, and lakes in the Lahontan Valley in Nevada provide irreplaceable habitat for millions of birds and are important water resources for people.
In Utah, Marcelle has worked with many partners to advance water policy and solutions to benefit Great Salt Lake and its surrounding wetlands. She contributed to the 2020 Great Salt Lake HCR10 Steering Group Recommendations Report and steered a collaborative effort to secure water for Great Salt Lake through water donations from Rio Tinto Kennecott and the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. She also has led efforts to complete additional water donations and transactions through the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust.
Prior to joining Audubon, Marcelle held various legal and managerial roles within the Rio Tinto group, including roles focused on socially and environmentally responsible business practices.
Marcelle serves as a representative of the environmental conservation interests on the Utah Watersheds Council. She also serves on the Steering Committee for the Great Salt Lake Basin Integrated Water Plan and is a member of the Northern Advisory Council to the Colorado River Authority of Utah. Marcelle holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and a Juris Doctor degree, both from the University of Wyoming.
Title: Role of the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust in the Future of the Lake and its Wetlands
Abstract: Continued focus on new or innovative ways to preserve Great Salt Lake and its wetlands is essential. At the same time, however, decades-old tools, modernized water policy, increased funding, and partnership opportunities are being tested and implemented to deliver water or protect existing flows for the lake ecosystem. Among the more recent policy advances, the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust (Trust), was established in 2023 with an initial $40 million in funding. The Trust, just one of many solutions, aims to build resilience for Great Salt Lake and the watershed with a focus on enhancing water quality and water quality. Nearly one and half years after the formal launch of the Trust, a number of voluntary water transactions have been undertaken and GSLWET continues to work closely with partners and water users to build a portfolio of water-sharing arrangements, support the restoration and protection of wetlands to benefit lake hydrology, contribute to water distribution improvements, and expand the Trust’s outreach. The Trust, led by National Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy, recently released a FiveYear Strategy establishing objectives through 2028, including goals to increase water transactions, increase wetlands preservation and build relationships. The Trust efforts are undertaken with guidance from the Trust Advisory Council, which represents a broad range of interests. The Trust also coordinates with an array of partners, including state and local agencies, local governments, water districts, agriculture, and other partners is key, which are key to the Trust’s goals and outcomes as well as a stepping-stone to ongoing outreach. This presentation will explore progress to date on the Trust’s objectives, details of future goals, as well as reflections on challenges and lessons learned, along with recognition of individuals and partners who help make water for Great Salt Lake and wetlands possible.