Rivers in peril: Why their preservation is critical to everything

LDSES will be promoting this Earth Day learning event, led by the ThinkAgain FaithAgain foundation.  Come hear from a veteran steward of Utah water sustainability on his extensive work for the environment.  Details on the location and registration for this event here.  You can attend in-person or via Zoom.

Over history, including more recent local history, some rivers have dried up or been so over-used they no longer reach the ocean. We will explore the consequences not just to the environment but to humans when this happens. When we think of Earth Day, we often think of air and ocean pollution, growing garbage pits, recycling, the damage from mineral extraction, the harm done by our industrial food complex, etc. But we too often forget the lifeblood of most civilizations throughout all time—fresh water from rivers. The last several years Utahans have had a wake-up call with our shrinking Great Salt Lake. But those below Lake Powel and Mead are in peril of losing power as well as having enough water to drink for a growing population. And this our just our species’ concerns. What of all the others being affected? Richard will help us explore ways we can all use water more equitably for the benefit of all.

Rich  Ingebretsen is the founder of the Glen Canyon Institute and is also the vice chair of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.  He founded Wilderness Medicine of Utah to teach back-country medicine and is the owner of River Bound Adventures an education river trip company.

Rich graduated from the University of Utah with a master’s in physics and a PhD in Physics Education.  He received an MD degree from the University of Utah School of Medicine in 1993.  He completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in emergency medicine in Salt Lake City.  He is now a clinical instructor of medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine and a professor in the Department of Physics.  He is an attending emergency room physician and practices internal medicine.  He is the program director of the wilderness program at the University of Utah School of Medicine and is the medical director of Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue. He was the Associate Dean for Student Affairs for the College of Science in 2014 and 2015.