Executive Director

Bear River Land Conservancy

Bio:

Casey Snider grew up farming in his hometown of Liberty, UT. He received his undergraduate degree from the Quinney College of Natural Resources at Utah State University and has a Masters in Environmental Policy from Johns Hopkins University. He has been actively involved in natural resource policy in both the non-profit and government sectors. He is currently the Executive Director of the Bear River Land Conservancy and resides in Paradise, Utah with his wife and daughter.

Title: Allies All: The Power of Collaborative Partnerships in the Debate Over the Great Salt Lake Watershed

Friday, May 11th, 11:20 AM

Abstract: As increased demands for water and land are placed on the Great Salt Lake Watershed it becomes more and more vital to expand collaborative working partnerships among an ever increasing array of diverse stakeholders.

Founded in 2008, the Bear River Land Conservancy (BRLC) was established to ensure that valuable lands for wildlife, birdwatching, farming, ranching, hunting, and fishing are conserved for future generations and for the health of our ecosystem as a whole. BRLC's first project was a wildlife conservation easement in partnership with PacifiCorp Power along the Bear River in northern Cache County. On this single piece of property BRLC has been able to partner with sportsmen on migratory bird habitat improvements, educated high school classes on the value of riparian landscapes, utilized livestock to manage invasive weeds and invasive grasses, worked with UDOT to mitigate wetland losses, and  recruited thousands of hours of volunteer work with a wide range of interests. This one project has yielding incredible benefits for wetlands, wildlife, neighboring land owners, industry, and the local community.

As BRLC expands its footprint, and as pressures on the Great Salt Lake and its tributaries increase, the need for strategic partnerships becomes even more apparent. Hunters and anglers, agricultural producers, mineral and mining interests, municipal waste water plants, legislators, environmentalists, tourists, and many others, should all be viewed first as allies in an ever changing dialogue about the future of this important regional and global asset.