Watershed Valuation - Australia to the American West
Aired: June 21, 2012, 2:00pm PT/3:00pm MT
Presenters: Dr. Rosalind Bark - Resource Ecological Specialist, CSIRO Ecosystem Services
Karl Morgenstern - Drinking Water Source Protection Coordinator, Eugene Water & Electric Board  
Dr. Holly Hartmann - Director, Arid Lands Information Center, University of Arizona/CLIMAS
Dr. Kiyomi Morino - Research Associate, University of Arizona  

Description
Join us as we tackle some of the key questions and issues for western water utility managers, decision makers and stakeholders on the practice and practicalities of how to value watersheds and the services they provide to downstream users.

Investment in watersheds expands the portfolio of risk management options available to utilities in a time of unprecedented climate uncertainty. Effective watershed valuation can offer a system-wide utility management perspective and answers questions such as, what ecosystem services does the watershed provide, and how do we account for those services?

Dr. Bark presented key findings from a new study which looks at what's been learned in Australia's Murray Darling Basin and what lessons could be applied to valuation work in the American West, specifically in the Colorado Basin.

Mr. Morgenstern presented Eugene Water & Electric Board's groundbreaking work in watershed valuation and how the Board is incorporating the findings into their water system master plan.