[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/Charlie-E-05-20-24.jpg” title_text=”Charlie E 05-20-24″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Charlie Ester retired in May as the Director of Water Supply and Planning at the Salt River Project (SRP) after a 43-year rewarding career. SRP is a water and power utility founded in 1903 which serves major portions of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Water Supply and Planning group is ground zero for assuring a reliable and sustainable water supply to SRP’s 250,000 acre water service territory in central Maricopa County. The group is responsible for weather forecasting in support of power and water operations, watershed monitoring, water resource measurement, runoff forecasting, reservoir operations planning, flood emergency reservoir operations, drought preparedness, and data archiving and analytics. Additionally, perhaps less visible but of equal importance, the group is responsible for aquifer management, including recharge activities, within the SRP service area and maintains a system of over 270 water supply wells which augment the surface water supply during times of shortage. During Charlie’s career he served as chair of the Oak Creek Watershed Council, was a member of the Healthy Headwaters Alliance leadership team, and promoted SRP’s watershed stewardship role by expanding monitoring efforts, supporting targeted research, and engaging with the Forest Service and other collaborators on forest and watershed restoration efforts. Charlie is a 1983 Hydrology graduate of the University of Arizona.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”1254px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#184d68″ header_2_font_size=”78px” header_3_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_text_align=”center” header_3_text_color=”#184d68″ header_3_font_size=”29px” custom_margin=”32px||||false|false” header_2_font_size_tablet=”61px” header_2_font_size_phone=”41px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Plenary Panel<\/h2>\nWorking towards desired conditions: 15 years of 4FRI – where are we now?<\/h3>\n
In 2010 the U.S Forest Service declared a problem: a responsibility for 2.4 million administrative acres across four forests in northern Arizona at\u00a0a high risk\u00a0for wildfire. With many large wildfires already devastating landscapes and communities across the region, efforts were already taking shape to understand watershed health and mitigate future destruction on public and private land. Stakeholders were eager to\u00a0leverage\u00a0resources and help the Forest Service develop a plan.\u202f Over the next five years, a collaborative effort evolved to restore forests ecosystems. To date, 1.53 million acres have been treated as part of 4FRI; 64% of the 2.4-million-acre goal.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Through collaboration across the Kaibab, Coconino, Apache-Sitgreaves and Tonto National Forests and input from local, county, and state governments; environmental groups, organizations, and institutions; and industry representatives, the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) took shape. In 2015 the U.S. Forest Service made history with the signing of the 4FRI Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision for the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests as the largest landscape-scale restoration project ever analyzed in Forest Service history.\u202f This decision approved various restoration activities on over 586,000 acres of the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests alone, including thinning; prescribed burning; watershed and road maintenance; grassland, spring, and stream channel restoration; and habitat improvements.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This panel will\u00a0convene\u00a0on the celebrations,\u00a0successes\u00a0and challenges of reaching desired conditions and goals outlined under 4FRI. Biomass bottlenecks, the importance of partnerships, and, of course, hydrology.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|15px||15px|false|false” border_radii=”on|14px|14px|14px|14px” border_width_all=”5px” border_color_all=”#247E99″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/Marylou-e1785801119141.jpg” title_text=”Marylou” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” width=”70%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_font_size=”26px” custom_margin=”||8px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n U.S. Forest Service natural resource specialist and 4FRI monitoring coordinator, will be the moderator of this panel discussion.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>MaryLou<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>will share how and why 4FRI came together, the implementation and reporting framework, and where 4FRI progress stands today. Lending decades of experience and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>expertise<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>MaryLou<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>will provide the audience with context for the biggest challenges and successes of 4FRI through a guided perspective of these experts:<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” width=”73%” width_tablet=”75%” width_phone=”83%” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”2560px” custom_padding=”25px|||8px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”42px|||8px||” custom_padding_phone=”0px||0px|0px|false|false” border_radii=”on|30px|30px|30px|30px” border_color_all=”#184d68″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”30px|30px|30px|30px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||50px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”20px|20px|30px|20px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|30px|30px|30px|30px” border_color_all=”#7fabcb” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”speackerscont” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” text_line_height=”1.3em” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_line_height=”1.1em” header_3_font=”|300|||||||” header_3_font_size=”21px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” custom_margin=”0px|||0px|false|false” custom_padding=”|||0px||” text_font_size_tablet=”21px” text_font_size_phone=”19px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”41px” header_2_font_size_phone=”33px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”31px” header_3_font_size_phone=”26px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_css_free_form=”.speackerscont h3 {|| margin-bottom:15px;||}” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”30px|30px|30px|30px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||50px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”20px|20px|30px|20px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|30px|30px|30px|30px” border_color_all=”#7fabcb” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kelly.png” title_text=”Kelly” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-4px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” width=”73%” width_tablet=”75%” width_phone=”83%” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”2560px” custom_padding=”25px|||8px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”42px|||8px||” custom_padding_phone=”0px||0px|0px|false|false” border_radii=”on|30px|30px|30px|30px” border_color_all=”#184d68″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”30px|30px|30px|30px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||50px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”20px|20px|30px|20px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|30px|30px|30px|30px” border_color_all=”#7fabcb” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/Anne.png” title_text=”Anne” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”30px|30px|30px|30px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||50px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”20px|20px|30px|20px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|30px|30px|30px|30px” border_color_all=”#7fabcb” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”speackerscont” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” text_line_height=”1.3em” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_line_height=”1.1em” header_3_font=”|300|||||||” header_3_font_size=”21px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” custom_margin=”0px|||0px|false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|0px||” text_font_size_tablet=”21px” text_font_size_phone=”19px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”41px” header_2_font_size_phone=”33px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”31px” header_3_font_size_phone=”26px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_css_free_form=”.speackerscont h3 {|| margin-bottom:15px;||}” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Anne Mottek is the Director of the Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership (GFFP), since 2015, and principal of\u00a0Mottek\u00a0Consulting. Ms. Mottek\u2019s educational background is in both forestry (BS) and sociology with a research emphasis (MA). Her work focuses on social science research and its application in a wide range of forestry and environmentally based land management issues and has authored several related publications and white papers. Ms. Mottek has worked on projects, publications and received grants with a variety of organizations like the Ecological Restoration Institute, Northern Arizona University (NAU) School of Forestry, University of Arizona (UA) Cooperative Extension, Southwest Fire Science Consortium, National Forest Foundation, Salt River Project, US Forest Service, Coconino County, and City of Flagstaff.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The GFFP is a\u00a0longstanding\u00a0non-profit organization that began 30 years agio in 1996 when\u00a0relatively large\u00a0fires ignited near the community of Flagstaff. The GFFP\u2019s vision is to research and\u00a0demonstrate\u00a0the various approaches to forest ecosystem restoration in the ponderosa pine forest and to improve the overall sustainability and resiliency of the forests throughout Northern Arizona. GFFP\u2019s\u00a0main focus\u00a0is on 1) multi-agency planning and coordinated and\u00a0complimentaryimplementation\u00a0of forest restoration projects, 2) monitoring and adaptive management, 3)\u00a0utilization\u00a0of woody biomass, and 4) outreach and education.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Fulfilling this vision and ensuring GFFP\u2019s sustainability as\u00a0a viable\u00a0collaborative group is a priority for Ms. Mottek. She is also actively engaged in several collaborative organizations like the Forest Biomass Coalition (a working group under GFFP), Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) Stakeholder Group, Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project (FWPP), and Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network (FAC Net).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-4px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-5px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” width=”73%” width_tablet=”75%” width_phone=”83%” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”2560px” custom_padding=”25px|||8px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”42px|||8px||” custom_padding_phone=”0px||0px|0px|false|false” border_radii=”on|30px|30px|30px|30px” border_color_all=”#184d68″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”30px|30px|30px|30px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||50px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”20px|20px|30px|20px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|30px|30px|30px|30px” border_color_all=”#7fabcb” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”speackerscont” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” text_line_height=”1.3em” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_line_height=”1.1em” header_3_font=”|300|||||||” header_3_font_size=”21px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” custom_margin=”0px|||0px|false|false” custom_padding=”|||0px||” text_font_size_tablet=”21px” text_font_size_phone=”19px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”41px” header_2_font_size_phone=”33px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”31px” header_3_font_size_phone=”26px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_css_free_form=”.speackerscont h3 {|| margin-bottom:15px;||}” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Devon is the managing partner and president of Suarez Forestry, LLC, an Arizona-based logging and forest-restoration company specializing in fuels reduction, ecological thinning, and sustainable timber harvesting. He grew up on Arizona\u2019s Mogollon Rim in a family that has worked in the forest-products industry for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>four<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>generations, giving him a lifelong connection to the forests and watersheds that sustain the state\u2019s communities. Devon holds a Juris Doctor and combines\u00a0<\/span><\/span>this background<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>with practical experience managing complex forest-restoration projects that reduce wildfire risk and protect critical water supplies. He is also an active industry advocate, working to advance sustainable forest management, strengthen rural economies, and ensure logging contractors have a voice in forestry policy.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”30px|30px|30px|30px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||50px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”20px|20px|30px|20px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|30px|30px|30px|30px” border_color_all=”#7fabcb” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/Devon.png” title_text=”Devon” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”1254px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text content_tablet=”<\/p>\n ” content_phone=”<\/p>\n ” content_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#184d68″ header_2_font_size=”78px” header_3_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_text_align=”center” header_3_text_color=”#184d68″ header_3_font_size=”29px” custom_margin=”23px||24px||false|false” header_2_font_size_tablet=”61px” header_2_font_size_phone=”41px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_text_color=”#184d68″ header_3_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_text_align=”center” header_3_text_color=”#184d68″ header_3_font_size=”29px” custom_margin=”||9px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Thirty Days Below the Rim<\/span><\/i>\u00a0is Arizona author Jon Fuller’s sixth book. Written in the style of a daily trip log and based on Jon’s journals from his own nine Grand Canyon trips, Jon’s talk will describe exactly what’s it’s like to row your own raft through Grand Canyon. The author joins a crew of fourteen adventurers on a month-long whitewater rafting trip. Both poignant and humorous, the story describes the rapids, the wilderness, and the unique characters he encounters along the way. On a deeper level, the journey is a quest for peace in a world mired in political and social turmoil. If a Grand Canyon rafting trip is on your bucket list, this talk and book is for you.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” width=”73%” width_tablet=”75%” width_phone=”83%” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”2560px” custom_padding=”25px|||8px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”42px|||8px||” custom_padding_phone=”0px||0px|0px|false|false” border_radii=”on|30px|30px|30px|30px” border_width_all=”11px” border_color_all=”#184d68″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”30px|30px|30px|30px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||50px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”20px|20px|30px|20px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|30px|30px|30px|30px” border_color_all=”#7fabcb” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/Jon-Fuller-bio-pic-1-rotated-1.png” alt=”Dr. Marty Ralph” title_text=”Jon-Fuller-bio-pic-1-rotated 1″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” width=”73.7%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|700px|0px||false|false” custom_padding=”|0px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”30px|30px|30px|30px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||50px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”20px|20px|30px|20px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|30px|30px|30px|30px” border_color_all=”#7fabcb” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”speackerscont” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” text_line_height=”1.3em” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_line_height=”1.1em” header_3_font=”|300|||||||” header_3_font_size=”21px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” custom_margin=”0px|||0px|false|false” custom_padding=”|||0px||” text_font_size_tablet=”21px” text_font_size_phone=”19px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”41px” header_2_font_size_phone=”33px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”31px” header_3_font_size_phone=”26px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_css_free_form=”.speackerscont h3 {|| margin-bottom:15px;||}” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Jon Fuller is the Founder of JE Fuller\/ Hydrology & Geomorphology, Inc. His specialties include applied fluvial geomorphology, sediment transport, erosion hazard analysis, alluvial fan flooding, and arid land hydrology.\u00a0 Jon earned a B.S. in Geology from Calvin College and a M.S. in Geomorphology from the University of Arizona. He is a Registered Engineer (Civil), and Professional Geologist. After a 44-year career, Jon is (almost) retired, and now spends most of his time long-distance hiking, whitewater rafting, biking, and writing about rivers and Arizona history.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”1254px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#184d68″ header_2_font_size=”78px” header_3_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_text_align=”center” header_3_text_color=”#184d68″ header_3_font_size=”29px” custom_margin=”32px||||false|false” header_2_font_size_tablet=”61px” header_2_font_size_phone=”41px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|15px||15px|false|false” border_radii=”on|14px|14px|14px|14px” border_width_all=”5px” border_color_all=”#247E99″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/QA-3-scaled-e1751563254705.jpg” title_text=”QA-3-scaled-e1751563254705″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” width=”93%” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”6px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_font_size=”26px” custom_margin=”||8px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Sarah Porter is Director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy and Professor of Practice in ASU\u2019s College of Global Futures. Established in 2014, the Kyl Center promotes research, analysis, collaboration and open dialogue to build consensus in support of sound water stewardship solutions for Arizona and the West. The Kyl Center\u2019s cornerstone project is the award-winning Arizona Water Blueprint, a comprehensive online hub of information about Arizona water resources and policy.<\/span><\/p>\n Sarah came to the Kyl Center from the National Audubon Society, where she served as the Arizona state Director and led Audubon’s Western Rivers Project, a multistate initiative to protect and restore important river habitats in the Intermountain West. Sarah was also a key team member in the effort to launch the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center, a nature education center located in a restored riparian habitat in South Phoenix. Before joining the staff of Audubon in 2006, Sarah spent fourteen years as an attorney in private practice, specializing in complex commercial litigation.<\/span><\/p>\n Sarah serves on Governor Hobbs\u2019s Water Policy Council, University of Arizona’s Water Resources Research Center’s External Advisory Council, Phoenix\u2019s Environmental Quality and Sustainability Commission and other community boards. In 2023, Sarah was named to the Arizona Capitol Times Powerlist as an \u201cUnsung Hero\u201d in recognition of her work on Arizona water policy.<\/span><\/p>\n A native of Phoenix, Sarah received her bachelor\u2019s degree with honors from Harvard College and her J.D. magna cum laude from Arizona State University College of Law, where she was a John S. Armstrong Award recipient. She clerked for Hon. William C. Canby, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/miller-1.png” title_text=”miller 1″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_heading title=”Scott Miller” _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Scott Miller is a Water Resource Analyst in APS\u2019s Water Resource Management section where he works with permitting, water rights and strategies, regulatory issues, water policy and data analysis to ensure APS power plants have the water supplies they need to generate power. He has been with APS for 12 years. Prior to that he spent 16 years at the Arizona Department of Water Resources where he was the Well Permitting Section Manager, Assured Water Supply Manager, Phoenix AMA Director, Statewide AMA Director and the Colorado River Management Manager. Scott obtained his BA in Environmental Management at the University of Iowa.<\/span>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kerri-1.png” title_text=”Kerri 1″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_heading title=”Kerri Hickenbottom” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Kerri Hickenbottom is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering at the University of Arizona. Her pioneering research focuses on advancing integrated systems to transform the management of water, energy. She has emerged as a preeminent leader in water resiliency for arid communities and a specialist in the critical field of data center water-energy management. Dr. Hickenbottom actively advances the field of desalination and water reuse by translating fundamental laboratory science into large-scale demonstration testbeds. Most notably, she led a first-of-its-kind study on integrated solar-energy capture desalination systems to realize self-sustained zero-waste discharge of concentrate streams in both inland and off-grid applications. Dr. Hickenbottom\u2019s timely research on data centers addresses one of today\u2019s grand engineering challenges: managing the rapid growth of cloud computing while minimizing global resource consumption. Leading diverse, multi-agency research projects that bridge industry, non-profits, and public utilities, her research group identifies impactful water-energy tradeoffs designed to reduce the environmental footprint of data centers in water-stressed regions. To further support these efforts, her team developed the open-source decision support tool, DC E-WISE, which aids stakeholders in understanding complex water-energy tradeoffs and opportunities for onsite water reuse. Dr. Hickenbottom utilizes these research tools and testbeds as platforms for workforce development, training the next generation of engineers to solve complex problems at the water-energy nexus while promoting social and environmental equity through enhanced system efficiency.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/speackers_10.jpg” title_text=”speackers_10″ align=”center” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”42px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Keynote Speaker Reflections on a 43-year SRP Water Resource Management Career Charlie Ester, recently retired, will explore his 43-year career at the very center of SRP\u2019s water resource operations and planning. He will share a variety of humorous stories, learning events, moments of extreme anxiety, and insights learned from over 4-decades of service. This […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":63,"featured_media":0,"parent":590,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\r\n Our Thursday program features a distinguished slate of keynote and lunch speakers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Office of the Governor<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Patrick Adams is dedicated to the mission of ensuring that Arizona has a secure, reliable water future. He joins the Governor\u2019s Office from the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA) where he served as Water Policy Advisor, providing policy expertise on behalf of Arizona\u2019s largest municipal water providers. Patrick was responsible for the legislative and water resource policy programs and represented AMWUA across all levels of government. Before joining AMWUA, Patrick was an environmental scientist at ADEQ, where he administered and enforced the state\u2019s Aquifer Protection Permit Program and Recycled Water regulations. Patrick is a graduate of Utah State University where he received a bachelor\u2019s in environmental studies from the Quinney College of Natural Resources and a bachelor\u2019s degree in Economics from the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n He will be giving an update on key water policy developments and ongoing issues taking place throughout the state of Arizona.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Water Infrastructure and Finance Authority<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Ted Cooke is a board member for WIFA, the state agency tasked with helping Arizona secure clean and reliable water supplies into the future. Ted recently retired as general manager of CAP. He worked on Colorado River issues for over two decades with CAP\u2019s neighbors and partners in other states, along with the federal government, to find innovative and collaborative solutions in the face of a millennial megadrought and shortage conditions. Prior to his time at CAP, Ted was involved in the development, financing, operations, maintenance, and management of over 20 commercial-scale solar and geothermal power plants. He has a BS in physics from Loyola Marymount University, an MBA in operations management and management science from UCLA, and a DBA in management from California Coast University.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Ted will be speaking on WIFA\u2019s role in meeting Arizona\u2019s water supply needs \u2014 its background, changes in responsibilities under SB1740, governance, funds, projects, and strategic framework.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Our Thursday lunch speakers will be discussing atmospheric rivers in California and Arizona.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Director, Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Dr. Ralph is a meteorologist focused on atmospheric rivers, the origins of floods, and predictions for water management and flood control. After 21 years at NOAA, he created the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at UC San Diego. He\u2019s published over 150 peer-reviewed articles and has developed programs on practical applications for new science and technologies. A leading expert on atmospheric rivers, he provides input to policy makers on western weather and water extremes. He is a leader in Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO), working closely with water managers. Dr. Ralph is a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society and has received awards from several organizations.\u00a0He has a BS in meteorology from UA and a PhD in atmospheric sciences from UCLA.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Staff Scientist \/ Meteorologist, Surface Water Department, Salt River Project<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Bohumil Svoma has published 29 peer-reviewed research articles in the fields of climatology and meteorology. His current research interests focus on improving the predictability of Arizona precipitation and streamflow from sub-seasonal through decadal time scales. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Dr. Svoma\u2019s operational duties include watershed monitoring and weather forecasting, focusing on watershed precipitation in the winter and on Phoenix-area temperature and thunderstorm activity in the summer. Before joining SRP, Dr. Svoma was an assistant professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Missouri from 2013\u20132017. He received his PhD in geographical sciences at ASU in 2011 and his BS degrees in mathematics and geographical sciences from ASU in 2007.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-1058","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/63"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1058"}],"version-history":[{"count":49,"href":"https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1058\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4927,"href":"https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1058\/revisions\/4927"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Moderator: MaryLou Zimmerman<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Kelly Mott\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Lacroix<\/span><\/h2>\n
Watershed Program Manager, Forest Hydrologist<\/span><\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Burned Area Emergency Response Coordinator (BAER),<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Tonto National Forest<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
Anne Mottek<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnerships<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
Devon Suarez<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
President, Suarez Forestry, LLC; challenges within the timber and biomass space<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
Lunch Speaker<\/h2>\n
Lunch Speaker<\/h2>\n
Lunch Speaker<\/h2>\n
Our Thursday lunch speaker will be discussing:<\/h3>\n
Thirty Days Below the Rim: A Grand Canyon Whitewater Rafting Adventure<\/h3>\n
Jon Fuller <\/strong><\/h2>\n
Founder of JE Fuller\/ Hydrology & Geomorphology, Inc<\/h3>\n
Friday Breakfast Panel<\/h2>\n
Water and Data Centers, an Arizona Perspective<\/span><\/h3>\n
Moderator: Sarah Porter<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Meet Our Speakers<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Keynote Speakers<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Patrick J. Adams<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/adams.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTheodore C. Cooke<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/cooke-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nLunch Speakers<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Dr. F. Martin (\"Marty\") Ralph<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Dr.](\"https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/martyRalph500.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDr. Bohumil Svoma<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ahssymposium.org\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/boSvoma500.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n