Saline Lakes Program Director
National Audubon Society
Bio:
Marcelle Shoop directs the Saline Lakes Program for the National Audubon Society. 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. 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 Lahontan Valley in Nevada provide irreplaceable habitat for millions of birds and are important water resources for people. 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. Her role with Audubon builds on previous legal and managerial roles at Rio Tinto that included a focus on socially and environmentally responsible business practices. Marcelle serves as a representative of the environmental conservation interests on the Utah Watersheds Council. She also is a board member for Project WET Foundation, an organization dedicated to advancing water education to understand global challenges and inspire local solutions. Marcelle holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and a Juris Doctor degree, both from the University of Wyoming.
Title: The Power of Partnerships: Collaborative Solutions for Enhancing Water Flows for Great Salt Lake
Abstract: The state’s 2019 Concurrent Resolution to Address Declining Water Levels of the Great Salt Lake (HCR010) clearly “recognized the critical importance of ensuring adequate water flows to Great Salt Lake and its wetlands, to maintain a healthy and sustainable lake system.” Achieving this long-term goal requires a range of solutions and tools, as well as strong and innovative partnerships to preserve the Lake.
A collaboration including business, water managers, government agencies, wildlife interests, and conservation organizations received approval in the fall of 2021 for two water donations aiming to deliver up to approximately 21,000 acre feet of water annually from Jordan River to Farmington Bay for an initial period of ten years. The approvals from the Utah Division of Water Rights recognize the beneficial use of water in the un-impounded areas of Great Salt Lake for wildlife and recreation—creating a framework for future water sharing arrangements that can benefit the Lake and its wetlands.
The formal partnership includes Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Rio Tinto Kennecott, Central Utah Water Conservancy District, National Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, and the Utah Reclamation, Mitigation and Conservation Commission, but many others have also been instrumental in making this a reality.
This presentation will explore partner reflections on project details, challenges, lessons learned, and recognition for other key people and organizations playing important roles to make water- sharing opportunities possible.