MIC Lecture Series

May 15 | Returning Rapids by Mike DeHoff

A group of river runners from Moab, Utah, had a simple question: “When will the next rapid in Cataract Canyon return?” From this singular curiosity, a ragtag team embarked on a treasure hunt that evolved into a pivotal study of a declining reservoir and a water and river management system in crisis.

What the research team discovered was an incredibly rapid rate of ecosystem recovery. Areas of the Colorado and San Juan Rivers, once impacted by Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell Reservoir, have shown remarkable resilience, rebounding from the consequences of misguided engineering.

The Returning Rapids Project team will share the ongoing story of how a river can heal itself from the massive impacts of a water storage project—one that some consider among the greatest environmental catastrophes of modern times. Using historic photos, pre-Glen Canyon Dam maps, and ongoing monitoring, they will illustrate how they have documented a river’s return and a canyon’s recovery.

June 19 | Climate Change in Utah’s High Mountains: Implications for Natural Resources and Biodiversity by Scott Hotaling

Climate change is proceeding rapidly at high elevations, leading to dramatic changes in snowpack and streamflow, with implications for natural resources and biodiversity. In this talk, Dr. Scott Hotaling, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Watershed Sciences at Utah State University, will discuss how Utah is changing, what these changes mean for natural resources in the region—including aquatic biodiversity—and an overlooked but potentially important resource for Utah under climate change: rock glaciers. Rock glaciers are masses of debris-covered ice that are common in the region (including in the La Sals!) and are resistant to climate change-induced ice recession.

Dr. Scott Hotaling is a new Canyonlands Natural History Association Discovery Pool recipient!

June 26 | Juneteenth: Freedom Day by Robert Anderson

Celebrate Juneteenth! Ranger Robby will discuss the history and significance of this federal holiday, which commemorates the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans—2.5 years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

July 10 | Site Stewardship Program by Ian Wright (State Historic Preservation Office)

To better safeguard Utah’s cultural and archaeological heritage, the state legislature has established the Utah Cultural Site Stewardship (UCSS) Program. This initiative engages dedicated volunteers to help protect historic sites across private, municipal, county, state, and federal lands. Volunteer site stewards are trained citizens committed to long-term preservation by monitoring cultural assets for human or environmental damage. They also participate in projects that safeguard both tangible and intangible heritage, such as the development of Utah’s Buffalo Soldier Heritage Trail. UCSS Program Manager Ian Wright will share how this program leads public engagement and education efforts in cultural heritage protection across Utah.

July 17 | Our Time in the Parks by Rhodes Smartt

Embark on a journey of introspection within our national parks: What is time, and why does it hold significance in our lives? Join Ranger Rhodes as he explores these questions, unraveling the diverse ways we perceive time. Discover how these insights shape our appreciation of public lands, influence conservation efforts, and guide park management strategies.

July 24 | Resilient Food Webs in a Changing Environment by Moria Robinson

Plants and the insects that eat them form the foundation of food webs on Earth. Beyond their central ecological importance, these diverse interactions can provide powerful insight into effects of environmental change. Among plant-feeding insects, caterpillars – the larval form of butterflies and moths – are a particularly important group of organisms. With over 11,000 described species in the United States, they are one of the most diverse insect groups. Living up to their “very hungry caterpillar” reputation, they are also impactful herbivores, imposing pressure on their plant hosts to evolve unique defenses – such as hairs, tough leaves, and chemicals – to prevent tissue loss.

Such adaptations in plants may be particularly pronounced in resource-limited and stressful ecosystems like the desert Southwest, where the cost of regenerating lost tissue is particularly high. In this talk, I will discuss how the environment – and its ongoing change – shapes the traits of native plants and the success of native caterpillar species on them, with implications for higher levels in the food web.

Moria is a CNHA Discovery Pool recipient.

August 7 | Soundscapes by Robert Anderson

Sounds are all around us, playing a vital role in both our physiology and our experience of public lands. The National Park Service is beginning to understand the relationship between sound and the natural resources within parks. By preserving natural soundscapes, we can enhance our enjoyment of these national treasures. Join Ranger Robert Anderson to learn more about the importance of sound in our parks.

August 28 | Geology of Canyonlands by Rhodes Smartt

Have you ever wondered how Canyonlands was formed? National Park Ranger and Geologist Rhodes Smartt will take us on a journey through the geologic history of Canyonlands National Park. He will discuss the geology of the greater Colorado Plateau and the Island in the Sky district, exploring how its unique formations led to uranium mining. Join us for an evening of geologic discovery!