Public Invited To "Water in the West: Use, Abuse and Scarcity"

"Water, water everywhere nor any drop to drink," reads Samuel Taylor Coleridge's epic poem, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." Water: a substance so integral to our survival yet one we often take for granted until faced by flood or drought.

 

In observance of Natural Resources Week Oct. 10-14, Utah State University's College of Natural Resources and the USU Water Initiative invite the public to the free symposium "Water in the West: Use, Abuse and Scarcity," Wednesday, Oct. 12, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Taggart Student Center auditorium on campus.

 

"This is an opportunity to learn about a variety of water issues in the West from a diverse range of experts," said Chris Luecke, interim dean of USU's College of Natural Resources and head of the college's Aquatic, Watershed and Earth Resources (AWER) Department. "The gathering will foster discussion on critical issues affecting all residents of the West."

 

Symposium presenters include researchers from USU's Utah Water Research Laboratory, the university's AWER, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Economics departments and USU Extension, as well as representatives from the Utah Division of Water Quality, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and the U.S. Geological Survey. Topics include watershed health, fisheries management, endangered fish, water quality trading and educational initiatives.

 

Parking is available in the university parking terrace at 850 E. 700 North. The Taggart Student Center is a short walk from the parking terrace and the Logan Transit District Route 4 bus stop at the Veterinary Science building on 700 North.

 

For more information, contact Mary Ann Lowe, USU College of Natural Resources, at 435-797-2452 or mlowe@cc.usu.edu.