Water 101 – How Does the West Get Its Water?
Class is in session for Water 101. John Fleck, a professor of practice and expert on the governance and management of the Colorado River discusses what is happening with water in the West. Then, Heather Himmelberger from the Southwest Environmental Finance Center walks us through how water reaches homes, schools and businesses through water utility systems.
About John Fleck:
- Keep up with the work at the Utton Center.
- Check out his blog about water, journalism and living in New Mexico.
- Learn more about the book Water is for Fighting Over (and Other Myths About Water in the West) and his book Science Be Dammed: How Ignoring Inconvenient Science Drained the Colorado River.
About Heather Himmelberger and the Southwest Environmental Finance Center:
- Check out Heather Himmelberger’s bio.
- Learn more about the Southwest Environmental Finance Center.
- SWEFC received a $4 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency.
News discussed in the episode:
- New York Times: Deal is Reached to Keep the Colorado River from Going Dry, for Now.
- Environmental Protection Agency: Learn about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
- NM Political Report: Eastern New Mexico water pipeline enters its next phase.
More information about the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority (ENMWUA) pipeline expansion:
- ENMWUA pipeline expansion
- ENMWUA water portfolio
- August 2022 ENMWUA update to Water and Natural Resources Committee
Learn more about UNM research into water issues.
About Our Guest(s)
John Fleck
John Fleck joined the Utton Center in fall 2021. He was director of the University of New Mexico Water Resources Program from 2016-2021, and has been affiliated with the University's water research and teaching programs since 2013. A former science journalist, Fleck spent more than two decades at the Albuquerque Journal, where he wrote about a range of political and policy-relevant science and environmental issues, from nuclear weapons and waste policy to climate change and water.
He has written about water since the 1980s. An expert in Colorado River management and governance, he is a member of the Colorado River Research Group and has written two books on the river - Water is For Fighting Over (and Other Myths about Water in the West) and Science Be Dammed: How Ignoring Inconvenient Science Drained the Colorado River.
Heather Himmelberger
Heather Himmelberger is a registered professional engineer with over 35 years of experience working with water and wastewater utilities and in the environmental arena. She has worked for the Southwest Environmental Finance Center (EFC) since 1994 and became its Director in 1996. As Director, she has assisted state, local and tribal governments with the broad financial implications of providing water and wastewater services and complying with state and federal regulations.
Ms. Himmelberger’s work with water and/or wastewater systems covers all 50 states and all 5 U.S. Territories. This broad, geographic vision provides an excellent understanding of the issues facing all types of systems, but particularly small systems. Her specialties include asset management, water loss, regulatory compliance, funding, collaborations, and technical managerial, and financial capacity development. She provides training and direct technical assistance to water and wastewater utilities of all sizes.
Hosted by UCAM’s Carly Bowling
Long-time listener, first-time podcaster, Carly Bowling, is a university communication representative in The University of New Mexico’s University Communication and Marketing team (UCAM). She is thrilled to help shed light on the outstanding research work being done at UNM, New Mexico’s only R1 university. In addition to producing IPNRS, she contributes stories and videos to the UNM Newsroom, the University’s official communications platform.
Bowling is a graduate of the Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Journalism (’19). Her background includes multimedia journalism, documentary filmmaking, photography and writing. She is passionate about science communication and making academic topics and research accessible and interesting to people from all backgrounds and she hopes you’ll consider subscribing to the show!