STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Water rights, climate-smart water usage and efficiency and water quality in the Wood River Valley will be among the topics up for discussion at Water 101.
The panel discussion will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, at Hailey Town Center West. It will feature EPA Program Manager and City of Bellevue Alderman Chris Johnson and Wendy Pabich, who has made water the focus of her career.
The free event will be held at Hailey Town Center West, 116 S. River St. in Hailey. The event will be conducted in English with live Spanish language translation available.
The program is being presented by 5B Resilient, a new program with a focus on climate action resources that’s under the umbrella of Sun Valley Institute for Resilience, and the Hailey Public Library. Pre-registration is available at https://sunvalleyinstitute.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=323194ea2fb5e72eed3757993&id=0d0a8147d1. But registration is not required to attend the event.
“Over 800,000 people are impacted by drought in Idaho, and 30 counties in Idaho have drought disaster designations from the USDA,” said Hannah Harris, Sun Valley Institute for Resilience program coordinator. “By putting in the work as a community to better understand the challenges we face we will be far better equipped to create solutions that address the state water in Idaho now and in the future. The panelists we’ve invited will share wisdom, hope and practical ways that we can all make a difference.”
Pabich has a PhD in Water Resources and an MS in Environmental Policy and Planning from MIT, as well as an MS in Coastal Geology from Duke University and a BA in Geography from Dartmouth College. She is president of Water Futures, which helps organizations ensure water security and has taught for MIT and the Sierra Institute.
She is the author of “Taking on Water: How One Water Expert Challenged Her Inner Hypocrite, Reduced Her Water Footprint without Sacrificing a Toasty Shower, and Found Nirvana.” She also was a science advisor for the film “Patagonia Rising.”
Chris Johnson is program manager for Idaho Rural Water Association and a board member of Blaine County Soil & Water Conservation district.
Water 101 is the first in a recurring series of community events that will be hosted by 5B Resilient.