Grand Staircase-Escalante Symposium 2026
Ways of Understanding and Protecting Land and Water Resources in the Grand Staircase-Escalante Region March 26-28, 2026
Location: Interagency Visitor Center, 755 W. Main St., Escalante, UT
Purpose
Bring together land managers, Tribes, researchers, conservation groups and interested public to gain knowledge and discuss multiple perspectives on land and water, ecosystem management issues, and ways people engage with the landscape.
Geographic Focus
The landscape of the Grand Staircase-Escalante region, from the high plateaus of the Dixie National Forest and Bryce Canyon National Park down through the benchlands, valleys and canyons of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Contact us at gsesymposium.erwp@gmail.com with questions.
Agenda
*Schedule subject to change
Day 1 (Thursday, March 26)
Welcome | 8:30AM MDT
- Welcome Remarks – Richard Greymountain
- ERWP Accomplishments – Lisa Clark
Earth Science | 9:00AM MDT
- Overview of GSENM Geology – Lance Weaver
- Geology of Cottonwood Road – Janice Gillespie
- Blending Jemez Lore with Local Geology – Kevin Madalena
- Droughting Megadroughts: Lessons Learned from Two Decades of Global Change on Colorado Plateau – Rebecca Finger-Higgens
- Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change on the Navajo Nation – Nekai Eversole
- Panel discussion moderated by Andrew Slade
BREAK | 11:00AM MDT
Land History & Protection | 11:20AM MDT
- Charles L. Bernheimer’s 1929 Efforts to Protect Glen Canyon – Morgan Sjogren
- Pongsikva Restoration on Sacred Hopi Lands – Fred Phillips
- Cup and Channel Archaeology – Michael Terlep
- Panel discussion moderated by Peter Howe
LUNCH BREAK | 12:40PM MDT
Water Quality & Streams | 2:10PM MDT
- Statewide Assessment of Water Quality and Impairments in GSENM – Amy Dickey
- Calf Creek and Harmful Algae/Cyanobacteria – Ben Holcomb
- Colorado River and San Juan River Channel Change Associated with Declining Water in Lake Powell – Shannon Sartain
- Panel discussion moderated by Tommy DeHart
BREAK | 3:30PM MDT
Invertebrates | 3:50PM MDT
- Harvester Ant Effects on Restoration – Derek Uhey
- Long Live the Queen! Exceptional Longevity of the Western Harvester Ant – Dennis Bramble
- Land and Aquatic Snails of the Grand Staircase-Escalante Region – Charles Drost
- Panel discussion moderated by Bill Heyborne
Evening Film – Western Skies: Toohoom-pai-ahv (The Southern Paiute Sky) | 7:30PM MDT
Including an introduction to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Inter-Tribal Coalition (GSEITC)
Event led by Autumn Gillard
No sign up needed
Day 2 (Friday, March 27)
Welcome | 8:30AM MDT
Soil & Restoration | 8:50AM MDT
- Biological Soil Crusts in a Changing World – Cara Lauria
- Early Vegetation Responses to the Deer Springs Fire – Sarah Hinners
- Seeds of Success Collections – Jackie Grant
- Panel discussion moderated by Steve Leavitt
BREAK | 10:10AM MDT
Vegetation & Trees | 10:30AM MDT
- Tolerance to environmental stress drives the success of Russian olive over Fremont cottonwood – Rebecca Senft
- Juniper Trees Ages in GSENM – Adam Phillips
- Anthropogenic Dispersal of Four-corners Potato – Bruce Pavlik
- Vegetation Management and Firewood Use on Navajo Nation – Loren Anthony
- Panel discussion moderated by Matt Wang
ERWP Future | 12:10PM MDT
- Future of ERWP – Lisa Clark
- Riparian management in the context of long-term geomorphic change – Mike Scott
LUNCH BREAK | 12:30PM MDT
Field Trips & Workshops | 2:00PM MDT
Calf Creek Water Quality & Ecology (sign up here) – Led by Ben Holcomb & Mike Scott
Dinosaur Trackway and Devils Garden (sign up here) – Led by Kevin Madalena & Andrew Slade
Ethnobotany walk (sign up here) – Led by Max Taylor & Marc Coles-Ritchie
Basketry workshop (2-day event, sign up here) – Led by Richard Graymountain
Evening Session
Stargazing and Indigenous astronomy (telescopes provided) – Colin Littlefield & Autumn Gillard
No sign up needed
Day 3 (Saturday, March 28)
Field Trips & Workshops
Stream and Riparian Ecology of the Escalante River (sign up here) – Led by Lauren Nickell & Mike Scott
Geology of Upper Cottonwood Road (sign up here) – Led by Jan Gillespie
Ethnobotany walk (sign up here) – Led by Max Taylor & Marc Coles-Ritchie
Basketry workshop (2-day event, sign up here) – Led by Richard Graymountain
