Event Blog: “Do Our Rivers Have A Chance?”

My admission ticket. This was by far the most informative Hammer event that I have ever attended.

Sitting before Mark Gold, Steve Fleischli, and Dennis Lettenmaier - three of the premier experts on water management, ecosystem preservation, and California’s current water crisis - the depth of California’s water conservation, retention, and usage problem became more evident than it had ever been to me before. Speaking to each of their respective specializations (Mark hails from the NGO sector, and is a former President of Heal the Bay, while Steve the current Director of the Water Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Dennis is a UCLA Professor of Geography), these three individuals profoundly influenced how I conceptualize the endangering of our rivers and the complex politics behind water usage and conservation efforts. In addition to presenting convincing arguments for change in how we interact with rivers as sources of drinking water and hydroelectric power, each of these speakers also addressed how our worlds change when we alter the natural ecosystems around us, and how efforts to reclaim natural habitats through conservation efforts transformed urban landscapes in a positive way through allowing diverse and exotic endogenous species to thrive side to side with populated urban areas.

The talk began with an introduction by Dr. Fleischli about his memories of California water policy in his youth. From his experience, the arena of conservation has changed, with climate change and industry evolving to create new challenges.

Fleischli explaining the benefits of ecosystem conservation in our national rivers, including benefits to humans with an interest in river habitats.

Fleischli discussing the effects of algae blooms on vital river deltas, and the evolution of "swimming pool cultures" even up to the coasts of once-swimming friendly rivers. 

Although much of his talk focused on long-standing threats to river ecosystems, Fleischli did address the drought and infrastructural challenges to thriving river ecosystems, including this eyesore (the LA river). Needless to say, he is not a fan. 

Dr. Lettenmaier's presentation injected some humor along with his more generally academic style. In this picture (and supplemented by words not on the slide), he highlighted that urban misuse of water, while highly annoying in principle, actually is far from the largest problem.

Instead, Lettenmaier focused on patterns of agricultural water consumption and industrial waste factors (such as oil drilling) as mass consumption concerns, showing how these industries interacted with water use over time. Below, he also outlined a general summary of his presentation.

            The most important take-away for me from this event was the inspiration for my final project. Taking the lessons learned from this project, I will be proposing a “River House” that takes all of its water from an artificial river running through the middle of the first floor of the house. The occupying family, through maintaining the water supply from the river and interacting with this flowing body of water throughout their everyday lives, will be forced to think of water conservation and the fate of our rivers in a very personal way. Perhaps by using art to inspire tangible socio-environmental change, we can bring our society back into balance with our rivers and rethink the way we bend nature for its valuable and precious resources.

The talk was followed by a 25 minute Q&A which, unfortunately, was dominated by Mark Gold's pre-prepared questions.