SUSTAINING THE NEW WEST: CONSERVATION CHALLENGES – CONSERVATION OPPORTUNITIES

November 29, 2017

Emerson Cultural Center, Bozeman, MT

  • 8:30 Welcome – Dennis Glick, Future West
  • 8:45 Defining “The New West” – Todd Wilkinson, Mountain Journal
  • 9:00 Key Note – Managing Growth in the New West – Ralph Becker, Former Mayor of Salt Lake City
  • 9:30 Setting the Stage: Growth Trends in the Northern Rockies, Ray Rasker, Headwaters Economics, Growth at the Local Level, Randy Carpenter, Future West, Outdoor Recreation and Public Lands, Kathy Rinaldi and Brooke Regan, Greater Yellowstone Coalition
  • 10:10 Break
  • 10:30 Growth Implications:
    • Water, or a Lack Thereof, in the New West – Laura Zeimer, Trout Unlimited
    • Highways and Wildlife – Impacts and Opportunities – Renee Callahan, Center for Large Landscape Conservation
    • Sprawling into Wildlife Habitat – Dr. Andy Hansen, Montana State University
    • Our Playground is Their Home – Recreation and Wildlife – Dr. Sarah Reed, Wildlife Conservation Society, Colorado State University
    • The Elephant in the Room – Climate Change – Dr. Steve Running, University of Montana
  • 12:15 Lunch
  • 1:00 Overcoming Conservation Challenges:
    • Fostering Sustainability at the Community Level – Skye Schell, Executive Director Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance
    • Bringing Towns and Counties Together to Plan for their Future – Chad Phillips, Planning Director, Routt County CO
    • Building Drought Resilience in the Upper Missouri Watershed, Ann Schwend, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
    • Creating Safe Wildlife Passage Across Wyoming’s Highways – Chris Colligan, Greater Yellowstone Coalition
    • Reconciling Conflicts Between Recreationists and Wildlife – Morgan Valliant, Missoula Parks and Open Space Department
  • 3:00 Break
  • 3:20 Tying it All Together – Todd Wilkinson with Panelists
  • 4:30 Closing Remarks
  • 4:45 Reception