Joan Degiorgio

 

The Bear River – Conservation Action in Great Salt Lake’s Largest Tributary

Take a little journey upstream of the Great Salt Lake with The Nature Conservancy to explore this 500 mile tributary that flows through Wyoming, Idaho and Utah on its way to the Great Salt Lake. The Bear River begins as a tiny stream at the dramatic crest of the High Uintas and ends in a thick marsh oasis creating wetlands and riparian woodlands along the way. With a river that is vital to both humans and wildlife – finding a balance between the two is key. The presentation will expand on why the Bear River is a conservation priority, the planning framework used to set the course for Bear River conservation, the many partners involved and the progress made to date to achieve watershed health.

Joan Degiorgio has been working in the field of natural resources planning for over 30 years. These years have included positions with the State of Utah, U.S. Forest Service, private consulting, the Utah Mitigation Commission, and as an adjunct professor at the University of Utah. For the past ten years she has been working for the Nature Conservancy responsible for identifying and managing projects in Northern Utah that preserve sensitive landscapes and species. These include the Bear River where she has assembled a team of public and private partners to develop and implement a science-driven landscape plan that includes a climate change element. She is also chair of the Alta Planning Commission.
Gary Crandall

Gary Crandall