The Moving Waters Culminating Conference was held at Northern Arizona University September 25-28, 2002.

The conference created a public space where a lively conversation might occur with a diverse audience of researchers, policy makers, and advocates. The conference consisted of lively panel discussions, interesting plenary lectures, and a wonderful celebration of story and music. Field trips were available at the conclusion of the conference.

The “Conference Story Line” followed the narrative thread of the “post-settlement history” of the watershed, beginning with J. W. Powell, the reality of aridity, and the road not taken, continuing through the construction of the hydraulic empire (apparent escape from aridity), the big buildup (and its consequences for indigenous people, and the landscapes of the Plateau), and the law of the river, and then new opportunities, including the new science (aridity is a reality), the new ethics, the new politics (including watershed councils and community based organizations, the WGA, cyber democracy), and the new vulnerabilities (post-September 11).

Conference Program (click to enlarge image)