The 2023 NASCA and National Watershed Coalition (NWC) Joint Meeting took place the first week of October year in beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah. This year’s meeting attracted close to 200 attendees.
While Utah is considered one of the driest states in the country, the group experienced heavy rain on Monday during the field trip, but that didn’t stop everyone from having fun. The first stop on the tour was at the Dry Creek Dam and Debris Basin Rehabilitation Site. Attendees learned about the enhanced dam safety, flood control, and irrigation water storage. The Provo River Delta Restoration project is a man-made channel and wetland ponds created to help recover the June sucker, an endangered fish only found in Utah. At the third stop, the Wallsburg Watershed, Daniel Gunnell shared stories from his 10-plus years of restoration and maintenance work in the watershed. Finally, the last stop of the tour was at Heber Valley Artisan, a family-owned dairy nestled in the Midway area. The group learned about their conservation easement, thriving herd, and how the whole family contributes to the dairy’s operation.
Tuesday was a day of presentations, as well as the election and swearing in of NASCA’s 2024 officers. From left to right:
John Switzer (MI) – Treasurer
Nikki Brinson (CO) – Vice President
Shana Joy (WA) – Past President
Ashley Henderson (AL) – Secretary
Tyler Brown (SC) – President
NASCA and NWC came together for a joint session on the last day of the meeting. Kelly Pehrson, Deputy Commissioner of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF), shared a presentation about his department’s efforts. Utah State Conservationist Emily Fife, UDAF Director of Conservation Jim Bowcutt, and Utah Association of Conservation Districts Executive Director Kristy Davis formed a panel to discuss how they have built a strong state partnership. Other speakers included Mule Deer Foundation CFO Jeremy Snitker; 9b Farm Bill consultant Pelham Straughn, and NASCA Southeast Regional Director Ashley Henderson, who discussed NASCA’s engagement related to DEI efforts.