Drought on the Plateau: Understanding Impacts and Building Resilience
tuesday March 24, 2026, 9:00am - 4:00PM | Csu's Western Campus, 3170 B ½ Rd., Grand Junction, CO 81503
Presented by The Nature Conservancy’s Canyonlands Research Center, CSU Extension & the Colorado Section of the Society for Range Management
Event is free but limited to 75 participants. Lunch and snacks provided.
Optional meet-and-greet on March 23, 5:00 - 8:00 location Gemini Beer Company
Optional meet-and-greet on March 23, 5:00 - 8:00 location Gemini Beer Company
Description:
Join us for the 2026 CO Plateau Science & Management Forum, presented by The Nature Conservancy’s Canyonlands Research Center, CSU Extension & the CO Section of the Society for Range Management.
This is a great opportunity to learn how drought is reshaping landscapes on the Colorado Plateau. Join us to hear from researchers and land managers on how drought affects natural and working landscapes, and what practical strategies can help build resilience. Experts from universities, agencies, conservation organizations, and ranchers will share insights on wildfire risk, livestock and wildlife responses to drought, protection of springs and streams, and real‑world examples of drought mitigation in multiple‑use landscapes.
Questions?
Contact: Mark Brunson
Event is free but registration required. Space is limited to 75 attendees.
Register now
Join us for the 2026 CO Plateau Science & Management Forum, presented by The Nature Conservancy’s Canyonlands Research Center, CSU Extension & the CO Section of the Society for Range Management.
This is a great opportunity to learn how drought is reshaping landscapes on the Colorado Plateau. Join us to hear from researchers and land managers on how drought affects natural and working landscapes, and what practical strategies can help build resilience. Experts from universities, agencies, conservation organizations, and ranchers will share insights on wildfire risk, livestock and wildlife responses to drought, protection of springs and streams, and real‑world examples of drought mitigation in multiple‑use landscapes.
Questions?
Contact: Mark Brunson
Event is free but registration required. Space is limited to 75 attendees.
Register now
Events
Meet and Greet
All Day Workshop
Meet and Greet
- Monday, March 23, 2026 | 5:00-7:00 pm
- Location: Gemini Beer Company | 310 N 7th St, Grand Junction, CO 81501
- Heavy apps provided.
All Day Workshop
- Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 | 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Location: CSU's Western Colorado Research Campus | 3170 B ½ Rd., Grand Junction, CO 81503
- Lunch and snacks provided.
Topics and Speakers
9:00 Introduction to the Canyonlands Research Center and the Colorado Plateau Science and Management Forum
Fire and Grazing
9:15 - How does drought change wildfire patterns and risk? | TBD, Colorado State University | Colorado Forest Restoration Institute
9:45 - How does drought affect livestock behavior and distribution? | Dr. Eric Thacker, Utah State University
10:15 - Small-group discussion
10:45 - Break
Water, Springs and Streams
11:00 - Policies and tools for drought adaptation for springs and groundwater | Dr. Laurel Saito, TNC, and Dr. Louis Provencher, TNC
11:30 - Bolstering drought resilience in dryland streams through low-tech restoration | Alix Pfennigwerth, TNC, and Gabe Bissonette, BLM
12:00 - Small-group discussion
12:30 - 1:30 - Lunch
Recreation and Wildlife
1:30 - How does drought change the dynamics of recreation impacts on wildlands? | Dr. Anna Miller, Utah State University
2:00 - How does drought change wildlife population dynamics and/or behavior? | Adam Brewerton, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
2:30 - Small-group discussion
3:00 - Break
Case Study in Drought Adaptation
3:15 - Case study: Drought mitigation and ranching in a multiple-use protected area | Matt Redd, The Canyonland Research Center
3:45 - Wrap-up
4:00 - Adjourn
9:00 Introduction to the Canyonlands Research Center and the Colorado Plateau Science and Management Forum
Fire and Grazing
9:15 - How does drought change wildfire patterns and risk? | TBD, Colorado State University | Colorado Forest Restoration Institute
9:45 - How does drought affect livestock behavior and distribution? | Dr. Eric Thacker, Utah State University
10:15 - Small-group discussion
10:45 - Break
Water, Springs and Streams
11:00 - Policies and tools for drought adaptation for springs and groundwater | Dr. Laurel Saito, TNC, and Dr. Louis Provencher, TNC
11:30 - Bolstering drought resilience in dryland streams through low-tech restoration | Alix Pfennigwerth, TNC, and Gabe Bissonette, BLM
12:00 - Small-group discussion
12:30 - 1:30 - Lunch
Recreation and Wildlife
1:30 - How does drought change the dynamics of recreation impacts on wildlands? | Dr. Anna Miller, Utah State University
2:00 - How does drought change wildlife population dynamics and/or behavior? | Adam Brewerton, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
2:30 - Small-group discussion
3:00 - Break
Case Study in Drought Adaptation
3:15 - Case study: Drought mitigation and ranching in a multiple-use protected area | Matt Redd, The Canyonland Research Center
3:45 - Wrap-up
4:00 - Adjourn
Other Information
Parking
Parking is available at the Western Colorado Research Center (3170 B 1/2 Rd, Grand Junction, CO 81503).
Parking at the research center may be limited, so please consider carpooling if possible!
Lodging
Discount room block available at TRU by Hilton | 243 Colorado Ave. Grand Junction, CO 81501 | 970.256.1000
Please make your reservation at: https://group.trubyhilton.com/hszxfa
Call the hotel at (970) 424-5777 and speak to Lawren Lee. Mention the Colorado Plateau Science and Management Forum to make reservations using the discounted rate.
Other Hotel options in Grand Junction:
Downtown Fairfield Inn and Suites | 225 Main St. Grand Junction, CO | 970.242.2525
Springhill Suites | 236 Main St. Grand Junction, CO | 970.424.5777
Hampton Inn Grand Junction | 205 Main St. Grand Junction, CO | 970.243.3222
Beyond those listed here, there are other hotels and Airbnbs in the Grand Junction area.
Parking
Parking is available at the Western Colorado Research Center (3170 B 1/2 Rd, Grand Junction, CO 81503).
Parking at the research center may be limited, so please consider carpooling if possible!
Lodging
Discount room block available at TRU by Hilton | 243 Colorado Ave. Grand Junction, CO 81501 | 970.256.1000
Please make your reservation at: https://group.trubyhilton.com/hszxfa
Call the hotel at (970) 424-5777 and speak to Lawren Lee. Mention the Colorado Plateau Science and Management Forum to make reservations using the discounted rate.
Other Hotel options in Grand Junction:
Downtown Fairfield Inn and Suites | 225 Main St. Grand Junction, CO | 970.242.2525
Springhill Suites | 236 Main St. Grand Junction, CO | 970.424.5777
Hampton Inn Grand Junction | 205 Main St. Grand Junction, CO | 970.243.3222
Beyond those listed here, there are other hotels and Airbnbs in the Grand Junction area.
Interested in More Events from US?
We host two section meetings per year that may take the form of a field day, ranch tour, workshop or training.
Usually we do one in the summer and one in the fall plus our annual meeting, but some years we may do more. Section members are kept up-to-date with local, regional, and national range related events via email blasts, a twice-yearly newsletter (The Range Rider), our website, and through our Facebook page.
Usually we do one in the summer and one in the fall plus our annual meeting, but some years we may do more. Section members are kept up-to-date with local, regional, and national range related events via email blasts, a twice-yearly newsletter (The Range Rider), our website, and through our Facebook page.
Interested in our tours and workshops?
You don't have to be a member to attend our tours and workshops, but Colorado Section Members receive
advanced notification through emails and newsletters. We don't maintain a contact email list outside
our official active membership list.
So check our Facebook page, our website, or consider becoming a member. It's easy to become a member through the Society for Range Management and choose Colorado as your primary section.
advanced notification through emails and newsletters. We don't maintain a contact email list outside
our official active membership list.
So check our Facebook page, our website, or consider becoming a member. It's easy to become a member through the Society for Range Management and choose Colorado as your primary section.
