Charting a course for Colorado River water for a sustainable future


ASU professor Dave White rafting the Colorado River as a graduate student

In 1998, ASU Professor Dave White, then a social sciences graduate student (pictured above), set out to raft the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park. The experience inspired passion and bolstered his commitment to ensure the sustainability of the lifeblood of the American West — the Colorado River.

Nearly two decades later, the Colorado River faces its most significant challenges in the form of a drought, climate insecurity and the overallocation of its water to seven U.S. states and Mexico.

How do we navigate the rapids of water management without capsizing under growing demand? White, who directs ASU’s Decision Center for a Desert City and is a professor in the School of Community Resources and Development, explains how to stay afloat. 

White's talk is part of the ASU KEDtalks series. Short for Knowledge Enterprise Development talks, KEDtalks aim to spark ideas, indulge curiosity, and inspire action by highlighting ASU scientists, humanists, social scientists and artists who are driven to find solutions to the universe’s grandest challenges. Tune in monthly to research.asu.edu/kedtalks to discover how the next educational revolution will come about, whether space is the next economic frontier and more.

More Environment and sustainability

 

Electric motorcycles at the Carbon Summit

ASU Carbon Summit displays sustainability leadership, collaboration and ... electric motorcycles

This month, a student-led initiative brought government officials, entrepreneurs and nongovernmental organizations under one roof to discuss sustainable carbon solutions. The annual Carbon…

Charles Redman congratulates the first School of Sustainability graduate, Brigitte Bavousett.

Charles Redman, founder of the School of Sustainability, faces a new adventure: Retirement

At the retirement celebration for Charles Redman on Oct. 22, two messages persisted: Redman’s contributions to Arizona State University helped to shape the interdisciplinary efforts we now find…

Earth's curviture as seen from space with the sun peaking over the horizon.

10 climate insights to guide our future

A group of globally renowned social, natural and climate scientists has once again convened to offer their newest annual synthesis report, “10 New Insights in Climate Science.”The report, published…